QC 


UC-NRLF 


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E7E 


MAIN 
LIBRARY 


IfflFALL  AID  WEATHER  REVIEW 


From  September  1,  1849,  to  December  31,  1884. 


BY  JAMES  A.  BARWICK, 


>BSERVER  SERGEANT  SIGNAL  CORPS  U.  S.  A.,  IN  CHARGE  OF  THE  U.  S.  SIGNAL  OFFICE 
SACRAMENTO,  CALIFORNIA. 


i 


RAINFALL  AND  WEATHER  REVIEW. 

FROM  SEPTEMBER  1,  1849,  TO  DECEMBER  31,  >884.  '.  j   i  '„    ,J 


BY    JAMES    A.    BARWICK,    OBSERVER    SERGEANT    SIGAL /£C/RP$  JSl     S?   &, 
CHARGE   OF   THE  U.  S.  SIGNAL  OFFICE   IN   SACRAlVl)[-E'NTO/CAJLlF()flN>IA\ 


RAINFALL   FOR  THE   WINTER   SEASONS. 

The  following  tabulated  statement  shows  the  rainfall  and  number 
of  days  that  rain  fell  for  each  Winter  month;  also,  the  total  rainfall 
and  total  number  of  days  that  rain  fell  during  the  entire  Winter 
seasons;  the  Winter  seasons  beginning  with  the  Winter  of  1852-3, 
and  ending  with  the  Winter  of  1883-4.  The  three  Winter  months 
composing  the  Winter  season  that  gave  the  heaviest  rainfall  was 
during  the  Winter  of  1861-2:  27.94  inches.  The  driest  Winter  was 
that  of  1863-4:  3.08  inches.  The  mean  average  rainfall  for  the 
Winter  season,  for  the  past  thirty-two  years,  was  11.393  inches.  We 
might  judge  from  this  that  we  should  never  have  a  Winter  season  of 
over  twenty-eight  inches,  or  one  of  less  than  three  inches  rainfall: 


DECEMBER. 

JANUARY. 

FEBRUARY. 

Total  for 
Winter 

Months. 

Total  No. 
Days  for 
AVinter. 

Indies. 

No.  of 
Days. 

Inches. 

No.  of 
Days. 

Inches. 

No.  of 
Days. 

1852-3.     

13.41 
1.54 
1.15 
2.00 
2.40 
2.63 
4.34 
1.83 
4.28 
8.64 
2.33 
1.82  - 
7.87 
.36 
9.51 
12.85 
2.61 
1.96 
.97 
10.59 
5.39 
10.01 
.44 
5.52 

20 
4 
8 
13 
13 
13 
17 
17 
20 
22 
11 
10 
16 
9 
21 
18 
11 
7 
6 
22 
13 
21 
17 
14 

3.00 
3.25 
2.67 
4.92 
1.38 
2.44 
.96 
2.31 
2.67 
15.04 
1.73 
1.08 
4.78 
7.70 
3.44 
6.04 
4.79 
1.37 
2.08 
4.04 
1.23 
5.20 
8.70 
4.99 
2.77 
9.26 
3.18 
1.64 
6.14 
1.89 
2.23 
3.43 

12 
6 
15 
16 
14 
21 
19 
15 
10 
20 
10 
7 
13 
18 
15 
17 
14 
9 
8 
11 
10 
14 
14 
13 
11 
17 
11 
7 
9 
8 
4 
9 

2.00 
8.50 
3.46 
.69 
4.80 
2.46 
3.91 
.93 
2.92 
4.26 
2.75 
.19 
.71 
2.01 
7.10 
3.15 
3.63 
3.24 
1.92 
4.74 
4.46 
1.86 
.55 
3.75 
1.04 
8.04 
3.88 
1.83 
5.06 
2.40 
l.ll 
4.46 

6 
14 
7 
6 
17 
13 
18 
14 
9 
11 
11 
2 
6 
11 
9 
9 
5 
11 
11 
18 
17 
9 
2 
10 
9 
17 
9 
10 
13 
6 
3 
10 

18.41 
13.29 
7.28 
7.61 
8.58 
7.53 
9.21 
5.07 
9.87 
27.94 
6.81 
3.09 
13.36 
10.07 
20.05 
22.04 
11.03 
6.57 
4.97 
19.37 
11.08 
17.07 
9.69 
14.26 
3.81 
18.73 
7.53 
6.88 
23.01 
7.56 
4.47 
8.33 

364.57 
11.393 

38 
24 
30 
35 
44 
47 
54 
46 
39 
53 
32 
19 
35 
38 
45 
44 
30 
27 
25 
51 
40 
44 
33 
37 
20 
39 
23 
29 
43 
25 
15 
25 

1,129 
35.3 

1853-4 

1854-5      .     

1855-6.   

1856-7 

1857-8    

1858-9  - 

1859-60 

1860-1      

1861-2 

1862-3  
1863-4      

1864-5 

1865-6          

1866-7 

1867-8  
1868-9        

1869-70 

1870  1 

1871-2  

1872-3 

1873-4      .     

1874-5 

1875-6          

1876-7 

1877-8             

1.43 
.47 
3.41 
11.81 
3.27 
1.13 
.44 

5 
3 
12 
21 
11 
8 
6 

409 

1878-9 

1879-80        

1880-1 

1881-2         

1882-3 

1883-4      

Totals  

136.41 

126.35 
3.948 

397 

101.81 

323 

Averages  for  32  y'rs. 

4.262 

12.8 

12.4 

3.182 

10.1 

MEAN   SPRING   RAINFALL. 


^  /The  tabk^be.lowcwill  be  found  to  contain  the  record  of  rainfall  and 
number  Gi  <?#£$  ^n  fell  during  the  Spring  months  and  for  the  Spring 

-  season,  v  It  informsvus  that  the  wettest  Spring  season  was  that  of 

*  iSfeft^l a. 6(5  inches ;vahd  the  driest  was  that  of  1857— .68  of  an  inch; 
the  mean  average  ior  thirty-two  years  being  5.358  inches,  showing  a 
deficiency  of  nearly  5  inches  in  the  dry  season  of  1857,  and  an  excess 
of  11.532  inches  during  the  wet  Spring  of  1880,  as  compared  with  a 
thirty- two  years  average: 


MARCH. 

APRIL. 

MAY. 

Total  for 
Spring 
Months. 

Total  No. 
Days  for 
Spring. 

Inches. 

No.  of 
Days. 

Inches. 

No.  of 
Days. 

Inches. 

No.  of 
Days. 

1853  

7.00 
2  5!S 

8 
4 
9 
5 
10 
13 
14 
17 
7 
15 
10 
12 
7 
11 
6 
12 
12 
6 
8 
10 
4 
10 
9 
13 
7 
14 
14 
7 
6 
10 
6 
13 

309 

3.50 
1.50 
4.32 
2.13 
Sprink 
1.21 
.98 
2.87 
.48 
.82 
1.69 
1.08 
1.37 
.48 
1.80 
2.31 
1.24 
2.12 
1.45 
.61 
.51 
.89 
Sprink 
1.10 
.19 
1.07 
2.66 
14.20 
1.64 
1.99 
.67 
4.32 

61.20 

7 
9 
9 
8 
1 
3 
6 
8 
4 
9 
9 
4 
3 
6 
7 
9 
5 
7 
6 
6 
4 
10 
3 
10 
7 
3 
12 
15 
6 
8 
7 
9 

220 

1.45 
.21 
1.15 
1.84 
Sprink 
.20 
1.04 
2.49 
.59 
1.81 
.36 
.74 
.46 
2.25 
.01 
.27 
.65 
.27 
.76 
.28 

4 
4 
6 
4 
3 
4 
4 
10 
3 
9 
2 

8 
2 
5 
1 
2 
2 

5 

11.95 
4.96 
9.67 
5.37 
.68 
4.29 
3.66 
10.47 
4.39 
5.43 
4.41 
3.12 
2.31 
4.75 
2.82 
6.93 
4.83 
4.03 
2.90 
2.83 
1.06 
4.31 
.83 
5.40 
1.39 
4.33 
8.84 
16.66 
3.01 
6.12 
7.22 
12.52 

171.46 

19 
17 
24 
17 
14 
20 
24 
35 
14 
33 
21 
24 
12 
22 
14 
23 
19 
14 
19 
19 
8 
26 
13 
27 
20 
21 
31 
25 
13 
19 
22 
25 

654 

1854 

1855  4.20 

1856 

1.40 

.68 
2  88 

1857  

1858 

1859 

1.64 
5.11 
3.32 

2.80 
2  36 

1860  .   _ 

1861  

1862  

1863 

1864 

1  30 

1865  

.48 
2.02 
1.01 
4.35 
2.94 
1.64 
69 
1.94 
.55 
3.05 
.80 
4.15 
.56 
3.09 
4.88 
1.70 
1.37 
3.78 
3.70 
8.14 

86.78 
2.712 

1866  

1867 

1868 

1869  ._     . 

1870  

1871 

1872 

1873          

1874  ' 

.37 
Sprink 
.15 
.64 
.17 
1.30 
.76 
Sprink 
.35 
2.85 
.06 

23.48 

6 
1 
4 
6 
4 
5 
3 
1 
1 
9 
3 

125 

1875 

1876 

1877  . 

1878  

1879 

1880 

1881 

1882  

1883  

1884 

Totals   

Averages  for  32  y'rs. 

9.7 

1.912 

6.9 

.734 

3.9 

5.358 

20.4 

MEAN   SUMMER   RAINFALL. 


In  the  recorded  statement  below  will  be  found  the  rainfall  for  each 
month  of  our  dry  or  Summer  season ;  also  the  total  for  the  season,  as 
well  as  the  total  number  of  days,  etc.,  that  rain  fell.  The  average  for 
the  thirty-two  years  past  is  .170  of  an  inch.  The  Summer  season  that 
gave  the  most  rainfall  was  that  of  1884 — 1.45  inches.  But  five  sea- 
sons of  the  thirty-two  gave  none,  those  being  1859,  1863,  1867,  1878, 
and  1883: 


SUMMER  OF  — 

JUNE. 

JULY. 

AUGUST. 

Total  for 
Summer 
Months. 

Total  No. 
Days  for 
Summer. 

Inches. 

No.  of 
Days. 

Inches. 

No.  of 
Days. 

Inches. 

No.  of 
Days. 

1853 

Sprink 
.31 
.01 
.03 
.35 
.10 

1 
2 
1 
1 

2 
2 

• 
Sprink 

2 

Sprink 
.31 
.01 
.03 
.35 
.11 

3 
3 
1 
1 
3 
7 

1854 

Sprink 

1 

1855 

1856 

1857                    -    

Sprink 
Sprink 

1 
4 

1858_     

.01 

1 

1859 

I860 

.02 
.14 
.01 

2 
4 
1 

.03 
.55 

.05 
.69 
.02 

2 

7 
2 

1861 

3 

1862 

.01 

1 

1863 

1864 

.09 

3 

.08 

6 

.17 

A 

3 
5 

1865 

Sprink 
.02 

3 
3 

1866      

.10 

2 

.12 

1867 

1868 

Sprink 
.01 
Sprink 
Sprink 
.02 
Sprink 
Sprink 
1.10 

3 

2 

2 

Sprink 
.01 
Sprink 
ISprink 

.02 
Sprink 
1.10 
.23 
.01 

3 
1 
3 
1 
1 
4 
3 
2 
3 
3 

1869 

1870 

Sprink 

1 

Sprink 

1 

1871 

1872  

1873 

.02 
Sprink 

2 
1 

Sprink 

1 

1874 

1875  

1876 

.21 

Sprink 

2 
1 

.02 
Sprink 

1 
1 

1877 

.01 

1 

1878  

1879 

.13 

1 

Sprink 
Sprink 
Sprink 
Sprink 

I 
1 
1 
1 

Sprink 

1 

.13 

Sprink 
.50 
.10 

3 
1 

3 
2 

1880          

1881  

.50 
.10 

2 
1 

1882 

1883  

1884  

1.45 

7 

Sprink 

1 

1.45 

8 

Totals 

4.48 
1.40 

45 
1.4 

.84 

23 

.11 

19 

5.43 

87 

Averages  for  32  y'rs. 

.026 

0.7 

.003 

0.6 

.170 

2.7 

MEAN   AUTUMNAL   RAINFALL. 


The  table  following  shows  the  Autumn  rainfall  by  months  and 
total  for  the  Fall  season,  both  of  rainfall  and  number  of  days  rain 
fell,  for  the  last  thirty-two  years,  the  wettest  being  the  Fall  season  of 
1864—6.84  inches;  the  driest  being  that  of  1880— .05  of  an  inch: 


SEPTEMBER. 

OCTOBER. 

NOVEMBER. 

Total  for 
Autumn 
Months. 

Total  No. 
Days  for 
Autumn. 

Inches. 

No.  of 
Days. 

Inches. 

No.  of 
Days. 

Inches. 

No.  of 
Days. 

1853.  __  

Sprink 
Sprink 
Sprink 
Sprink 

1 
1 
1 
1 

Sprink 
1.01 

1 
11 

1.50 
.65 
.75 
.65 
2.41 
.15 
6.48 
.18 
2.17 
Sprink 
1.49 
6.72 
2.43 
2.43 
3.81 
.77 
.85 
.58 
1.22 
1.93 
1.21 
3.80 
6.20 
.30 
1.07 
.51 
2.05 
.05 
1.88 
3.22 
.61. 

5 
2 
9 
10 
10 
11 
15 
5 
12 

i 

9 
8 
6 
5 
5 
6 
8 
4 
5 
9 
10 
1 
7 
3 
8 
2 
4 
7 
3 

1.50 
1.66 
.75 
.85 
3.06 
3.16 
6.50 
1.15 
2.17 
.36 
1.49 
6.84 
2.99 
2.43 
3.82 
.77 
2.97 
.60 
1.43 
2.15 
1.52 
6.11 
6.64 
3.75 
1.80 
1.35 
2.93 
.05 
2.73 
6.42 
2.48 
2.61 

7 
14 
10 
17 
13 
21 
18 
16 
13 
8 
8 
12 
18 
9 
7 
5 
8 
8 
10 
8 
9 
18 
14 
9 
12 
7 
12 
2 
11 
15 
11 
7 

1854  

1855 

1856. 

.20 
.65 
3.01 

*        6 
3 
5 

1857  

1858 

Sprink 
.02 
.06 

5 
3 
2 

1859. 

1860.  __   .__ 

.91 

Sprink 
.36 

9 
1 
6 

1861 

1862 

1863 

Sprink 
Sprink 
.08 

1 
1 

4 

1864  _ 

.12 
.48 
Sprink 

2 
5 
1 

1865  

1866 

1867 

.01                1 

1868  

1869 

Sprink 

1 

2.12 
.02 
.21 
.22 
.31 
2.26 
.44 
3.45 
.73 
.55 
.88 

2 
2 
1 
2 
4 
8 
4 
7 
5 
1 
4 

1870 

1871 

Sprink 
Sprink 

1 
2 

1872  

1873.     

1874 

.05 

1 

1875. 

1876  

Sprink 

1 

1877 

1878 

.29 

3 

1879 

1880  

1881  

.30 
.57 
.90 
.60 

1 
2 
2 
3 

.55 
2.63 
.97 
2.01 

6 
6 
6 
4 

1882 

1883 

1884..  

Totals 

2.88 
.090 

38 
1.2 

24.09 
.753 

112 
3.5 

58.07 
1.815 

207 
6.5 

85.04 
2.658 

357 
11.2 

Averages  for  32  years. 

YEARLY   AND   SEASONAL   RAINFALL,   ETC. 


The  instructive  tabulated  information  below  gives  the  rainfall 
annually — that  is,  from  January  to  December  of  each  year — for  thirty- 
two  years.  Also,  the  rainfall  by  seasons,  beginning  with  September 
1st  of  one  year  and  ending  with  August  31st  of  the  next  year,  the 
wettest  season  being  1861-2—35.56  inches;  the  driest  that  of  1863-4— 
7.86  inches;  the  wettest  calendar  year  being  1880 — 31.99  inches;  the 
driest  being  1877 — 8.43  inches;  the  mean  average  seasonal  rainfall 
for  thirty-one  years  being  19.143  inches;  the  mean  average  for  the 
year,  or  the  mean  annual  average,  being  19.480  inches.  The  differ- 
ence between  the  mean  average  rainfall,  calculating  from  January 
1st  to  December  31st  of  each  year,  and  from  September  1st  of  one 
year  to  August  31st  of  next  year,  is  only  .337  of  an  inch  in  favor  of 
the  calendar  year: 


YEAR  OF  — 

Yearly  Rain- 
fall. 

Total 
No.  of  Days 
Rain  Fell. 

Season  of— 

Rainfall- 
Inches. 

Total  No.  of 
Days. 

1853 

19.99 

51 

1854          ._                      

19.83 

62 

18.^)3-54 

20.06 

51 

1855     _ 

18.56 

70 

1854-55 

18.62 

69 

1856 

14.26 

70 

1855-56 

13.76 

63 

1857 

12.91 

74 

1856-57 

10.46 

78 

1858  

16.80 

99 

1857-58 

15.00 

87 

1859 

16.86 

97 

1858-59 

16.03 

100 

1860 

19.19 

72 

1859-60 

22.09 

101 

1861  . 

21.38 

75 

1860-61 

16.10 

76 

1862 

27.44 

85 

1861-62 

35.56 

100 

1863 

12.20 

60 

1862-63 

11.58 

64 

1864  

19.27 

67 

1863-64 

7.87 

57 

I8«5 

11.15 

61 

1864-65 

22.51 

62 

1866 

26.52 

86 

1865-66 

17.93 

83 

1867  

30.03 

63 

1866-67 

25.30 

72 

1868 

19.50 

68 

1867-68 

32.79 

78 

1869                 

18.19 

52 

1868-69 

16.64 

58 

1870  

10.21 

51 

1869-70 

13.57 

52 

1871 

18.92 

71 

1870-71 

8.47 

53 

1872 

19.17 

70 

1871   72 

23  65 

83 

1873  

18.20 

69 

1872-73 

14.21 

60 

1874 

17.92 

87 

1873-74 

22.90 

82 

1875 

23  31 

59 

1874  75 

17  70 

71 

1876 

18.12 

62 

1875-76 

26.53 

75 

187? 

8.44 

60 

1876-77 

8.96 

54 

1878 

23  45 

65 

1877  78 

24  86 

72 

1879  

22.37 

78 

1878-79 

17.85 

64 

1880 

31.99 

66 

1879-80 

26.47 

67 

18S1 

20  71 

60 

1880  81 

26.57 

61 

1882 

18.06 

58 

1881-82 

16.51 

57 

1883 

13.48 

46 

1882-83 

18.11 

52 

1884 

3492 

70 

1883  84 

24.78 

68 

Totals     __ 

623.35 

2,184 

593.44 

2,170 

Averages 

*19.480 

68.2 

|19.143 

70.0 

*  Mean  for  thirty -two  years, 
f  Mean  for  thirty-one  seasons. 


MEAN   WINTER   TEMPERATURE. 

The  tabulated  statement  below  shows  the  average  temperature  by 
months,  and  for  the  season  also,  of  the  Winter  seasons,  beginning 
with  the  season  of  1853-4  and  ending  with  the  one  of  1883-4;  also, 
showing  a  mean  average  for  thirty-one  years.  Judging  from  the 
average  temperature  for  each  season,  we  must  conclude  that  the  season 
of  1879-80  was  the  coldest— 44.5°;  the  warmest  being  the  season  of 
1881 — 51.0°;  the  mean  average  of  thirty-one  years  being  48.3°  • 


WINTER  SEASON  OF — 


Mean  Temp. — 
December. 


Mean  Temp. — 
January. 


Mean  Temp. — 
February. 


Mean  Winter 
Temperature. 


1853-54  

1854-55  

1855-56 

1856-57  

1857-58 

1858-59  

1859-60  

1860-61  

1861-62  

1862-63 ___. 

1863-64  

1864-65 1 

1865-66  

1866-67  

1867-68  

1868-69  

1869-70  

1870-71  

1871-72  

1872-73  

1873-74  

1874-75  

1875-76  

1876-77  

1877-78  

1878-79  

1879-80  

1880-81  

1881-82 

1882-83  

1883-84  

Totals 

Averages  for  31  years. 


48.0 
47.9 
46.0 
43.9 
47.4 
44.5 
43.5 
49.3 
50.9 
46.4 
46.5 
50.2 
44.1 
50.2 
46.8 
47.0 
46.5 
45.5 
48.7 
49.0 
47.7 
45.0 
48.0 
45.5 
48.6 
47.2 
44.0 
50.3 
46.2 
48.2 
44.2 


47.0 


43.0 
43.7 
48.0 
48.5 
45.0 
44.9 
46.2 
47.1 
46.4 
46.9 
49.2 
47.4 
46.5 
48.2 
47.0 
47.6 
48.6 
48.3 
48.5 
52.7 
45.7 
46t9 
48.8 
49.1 
49.7 
45.5 
43.5 
49.2 
45.1 
41.9 
46.6 


1455.7 


47.0 


51.0 
52.5 
52.6 
50.2 
52.2 
50.5 
49.8 
52.2 
47.5 
48.0 
53.6 
49.0 
63.5 
47.8 
50.5 
49.9 
51.1 
49.4 
53.3 
48.2 
49.3 
52.7 
50.2 
55.0 
5,1.3 
55.0 
46.0 
53.5 
46.3 
46.0 
46.9 


1575.0 


47.3 
48.0 
48.9 
47.5 
48.2 
46.6 
46.5 
49.5 
48.3 
47.1 
49.8 
48.9 
51.4 
48.7 
48.1 
48.2 
48.7 
47.7 
50.2 
50.0 
47.6 
48.2 
49.0 
49.9 
49.9 
49.2 
44.5 
51.0 
45.9 
45.4 
45.9 


1496.1 


50.8 


48.3 


MEAN   SPRING   TEMPERATURE. 


The  table  below  will  be  found  to  contain  the  average  temperature 
by  months  for  the  Spring,  also  for  the  season.  The  warmest  one,  as 
indicated  by  its  average  temperature,  was  1853 — 62.9°;  the  coldest, 
1880—55.0°;  the  mean  average  Spring  temperature  being  59.5°. 


SPRING  SKASON  OF  — 

Mean  Temp.  — 
March. 

Mean  Temp.— 
April. 

Mean  Temp.  — 
May. 

Mean  Spring 
Temperature. 

1853 

59.8 

61.0 

68.0 

62.9 

1854                                                           -   -   - 

53.0 

60.0 

62.0 

58.5 

1855                                           ______     ___ 

54.8 

58.1 

60.2 

57.7 

1856 

57.0 

58.8 

63.9 

59.9 

1857                                                                -  - 

56.4 

63.3 

65.5 

61.7 

1858                                    --  --- 

53.7 

59.8 

65.2 

59.6 

1859 

51.5 

57.1 

63.0 

57.2 

I860                                                        -   

53.3 

57.8 

58.5 

56.5 

1861                       --         -  

55.0 

60.6 

63.7 

59.8 

1862 

53.6 

58.0 

61.2 

57.6 

1863 

57.6 

59.5 

67.1 

61.4 

1864                         _-   --     

56.1 

62.1 

68.5 

62.2 

1865 

53.6 

59.3 

70.2 

61.0 

1866 

54.2 

61.9 

63.1 

59.7 

1867                         - 

50.7 

59.7 

64.4 

58.3 

1868 

55.0 

60.1 

64.2 

59.8 

1869                                                      -     

53.6 

59.0 

64.2 

58.9 

1870                           -      

53.0 

57.0 

61.0 

57.0 

1871 

56.0 

59.2 

61.5 

58.9 

1872 

56.8 

57.6 

67.0 

60.5 

1873                              ---     . 

56.8 

60.0 

67.9 

61.6 

1874 

52.9 

59.5 

64.7 

59.0 

1875 

58.7 

63.0 

68.1 

63.3 

1876                     --         -   

54.6 

59.5 

65.7 

59.9 

1877 

59.0 

60.2 

64.5 

61.2 

1878 

56.7 

59.4 

65.5 

60.5 

1879                   .   

57.4 

60.3 

60.2 

59.3 

1880  

48.8 

54.6 

61.6 

55.0 

1881 

55.5 

60.8 

64.8 

60.4 

1882                           

53.0 

55.8 

64.0 

57.6 

1883 

56.9 

56.0 

62.6 

58.5 

1884 

52.9 

56.7 

64.0 

57.9 

Totals 

1757.9 

1895.7 

2056.0 

1903.1 

Averages  for  32  years       

54.9 

59.2 

64.2 

59.5 

MEAN   SUMMER   TEMPERATURE. 

The  average  temperature  in  the  following  table  is  for  the  Summer 
months  and  for  the  Summer  season,  showing  by  their  average  temper- 
ature that  1866  was  the  warmest— 74.8°;  and  the  coldest  to  have  been 
1880 — 69.1°;  the  mean  average  for  thirty-two  years  is  71.7°;  the  season 
of  1866  being  2.9°  above  the  mean  average,  and  1880  being  2.6°  below 
the  mean  average  for  the  past  thirty-two  years.  It  also  appears  that 
the  mean  average  temperature  for  the  past  thirty-two  years  for  June, 
July,  and  August,  was  in  the  seventies,  which  gives  us  to  understand 
that  the  three  Summer  months  are  usually  of  even  degrees  of  temper- 
ature, with  July  a  little  the  warmest  of  the  three: 


SUMMER  SEASON  OF  — 

Mean  Temp.  — 
June. 

Mean  Temp.  — 
July. 

Mean  Temp.  — 
August. 

Mean  Summer 
Temperature. 

1853  

77.0 

75.0 

71.0 

74.3 

1854 

67.0 

80  6 

69  5 

72  4 

1855 

71.1 

72  5 

73  0 

72  2 

1856  __. 

71.1 

75.1 

69.6 

71.9 

1857  

71.9 

71.4 

71.3 

71.5 

1858 

69  4 

70.8 

70  6 

70  3 

1859     ._           . 

74.8 

69.1 

67.2 

70.4 

1860  

65.6 

73.2 

73.5 

70.8 

1861 

66  2 

73  6 

69  7 

69.8 

1862 

69.3 

73  2 

75.0 

72  5 

1863     

69.1 

75.6 

70.7 

71.8 

1864 

71  1 

74  8 

74  7 

73  5 

1865 

73  5 

74  0 

71.7 

73  1 

1866           .        _     _ 

72.2 

76  2 

76.0 

74.8 

1867     

70.3 

73.7 

71.7 

71.9 

1868 

69  5 

73  8 

71  2 

71  5 

1869 

70.8 

74  3 

71.3 

72  1 

1870          .  .  _ 

69.3 

71.8 

72.6 

71.2 

1871     

70.1 

70.2 

72.0 

70.8 

1872 

69.2 

71  4 

73.1 

71  6 

1873 

71.7 

73.2 

66.3 

70.4 

1874    

70.2 

72.8 

70.9 

71.3 

1875     

70.6 

73.3 

72.5 

72.1 

1876 

76  9 

74.0 

72.8 

74.6 

1877 

72.5 

75.0 

72.9 

73.5 

1878    

71.8 

73.4 

73.4 

72.9 

1879  

72.1 

71.8 

74.7 

72.9 

1880 

66  6 

70  9 

69.7 

69.1 

1881 

66.0 

71.1 

68.2 

68.5 

1882    .     _.     

68.1 

73.4 

71.9 

71.1 

1883  _ 

72.6 

73.1 

71.4 

72.4 

1884 

65  8 

71.2 

72  5 

69.8 

Totals                      _  . 

2253.4 

2343.5 

2292.6 

2296.5 

Averages  for  32  years 

70.4 

73  2 

71.6 

71.7 

MEAN   AUTUMN  TEMPERATURE. 


The  average  temperature  for  the  Fall  season  indicates  the  Fall  of 
1853  as  being  the  warmest,  it  being  69.0°;  that  of  1881  was  the  coldest, 
judging  from  the  average  temperature,  it  being  58.5°.  The  average 
mean  temperature  for  thirty-two  years  past  being  61.5°,  showing  the 
average  of  1853  to  have  been  7.5°  above  the  mean  average,  and  that  of 
1881  to  have  been  3.0°  below  the  mean  average  temperature  for  the  past 
thirty-two  years: 


FALL  SEASON  OF  — 

Mean  Temp.  — 
September. 

Mean  Temp.  — 
October. 

Mean  Temp.  — 
November. 

Mean  Autumn 
Temperature. 

1853 

76.0 

78.0 

53  0 

69  0 

1854_.  

65.0 

60.0 

55.0 

60  0 

1855 

68  0 

63  0 

50  6 

60  5 

1856 

70.9 

58.0 

52.2 

60  4 

1857  

67.9 

61.5 

53.2 

60.9 

1858 

68.9 

59  5 

542 

60  9 

1859     . 

65.9 

63.3 

54.0 

61  1 

I860 

67  6 

59  8 

53  5 

60  3 

IS  fit 

67.8 

59.9 

53.6 

60  4 

1862  

70.4 

67.6 

53.1 

63.7 

1863 

69.0 

62  8 

52.7 

61  5 

28M  

69.8 

64.5 

53.5 

62  6 

1865 

68  8 

63  1 

56  9 

62  9 

1866           .     _  _ 

72.2 

65.2 

53.8 

63  7 

1867  

68.8 

62.7 

54.8 

62  1 

1868 

68  3 

62  0 

53  9 

61  4 

1869  

69.9 

63.1 

54.0 

62  3 

1870 

68.0 

63  6 

53  4 

61  7 

1871 

67.4 

62  2 

50.2 

59  9 

1872 

68  8 

58  9 

51  2 

59  6 

1873 

69  9 

61  4 

57  5 

62  9 

1874..  

70.7 

61.7 

53  9 

62  1 

1875  _ 

55.7 

69.9 

56.7 

60  8 

1876 

70  1 

63  5 

53  3 

62  3 

1877  .     . 

72.7 

62.9 

54.7 

63  4 

1878 

69  0 

62  9 

55  5 

62  5 

1879  

70.4 

61  5 

50  9 

60  9 

1880  

68.0 

62.1 

49  7 

59  9 

1881 

67  8 

56  8 

50  8 

58  5 

1882  

68  4 

58.4 

49  5 

58  8 

1883 

71  6 

58  2 

50  5 

60  1 

1884.    

64  8 

59  9 

55  3 

60  0 

Totals 

2198  5 

1997  9 

1705  1 

1967  1 

Averages  for  32  years  

68.7 

62.4 

53.3 

61.5 

! 

2t 


10 


AVERAGE   ANNUAL   AND   SEASONAL   TEMPERATURES. 

The  statement  below  shows  the  average  temperature,  for  each  year, 
for  thirty-two  years,  and  for  the  Spring,  Summer,  and  Autumn,  for  the 
past  thirty-two  years,  and  the  average  Winter  temperature  for  thirty- 
one  years.  The  coldest  year,  inferring  from  the  average  temperature, 
was  that  of  1880—57.5°;  the  warmest  was  1864— 62.8°;  the  mean  aver- 
age for  the  past  thirty-two  years  being  60.2°,  showing  the  coldest  to 
have  been  2.7°  below  the  mean  average,  while  the  warmest  year  being 
that  of  1864,  when  it  was  2.6°  above  the  mean  average  for  thirty-two 
years.  By  careful  study  of  the  following  table,  one  is  struck  by  the 
slight  difference  between  the  coldest  and  warmest  year,  as  compared 
with  a  thirty-two  years  average,  generally  not  more  than  3°.  That 
is,  we  might  safely  say  that  the  average  temperature  of  any  year  is  not 
likely  to  vary  more  than  3°  from  60°,  either  way,  between  the  hottest 
and  coldest  year,  as  compared  with  the  mean  average  temperature  for 
the  past  thirty-two  years: 


YEAR. 

Mean  Annual 
Temperature. 

Mean  Spring 
Temperature. 

Mean  Summer 
Temperature. 

Mean  Autumn 
Temperature. 

Mean  Winter 
Temperature. 

1853    

62.6 

62.9 

74.3 

69.0 

,:, 

1854  

59.5 

58.3 

72.4 

60.0 

47.3 

1855 

59.5 

57.7 

72.2 

60.5 

48.0 

1856 

60.1 

59.9 

71.9 

60.4 

48.9 

1857 

60  7 

61.7 

71.5 

60  9 

475 

1858 

59.5 

59.6 

70.3 

60.9 

48.2 

1859 

58.7 

57.2 

70.4 

61.1 

46.6 

1860    

59.0 

56.5 

70.8 

60.3 

46.5 

1861  _  

60.1 

59.8 

69.8 

60.4 

49.5 

1862 

60.2 

57.6 

72.5 

63.7 

48.3 

1863    . 

60.3 

61.4 

71.8 

61.5 

47.1 

1864  

62.8 

62.2 

73.5 

62.6 

49.8 

1865 

61.0 

61.0 

73.1 

62.9 

48.9 

1866 

62.1 

59.7 

74.8 

63.7 

51.4 

1867 

59.9 

583 

71.9 

62  1 

48.7 

1868 

60.1 

59.8 

71.5 

61.4 

48.1 

1869 

60.4 

58.9 

72.1 

62.3 

48.2 

1870    

59.6 

57.0 

71.2 

61.7 

48.7 

1871  

59.6 

58.9 

70.8 

59.9 

47.7 

1872 

60.4 

60.5 

71.6 

59.6 

50.2 

1873 

60.7 

61.6 

70.4 

62.9 

50.0 

1874  .. 

59.8 

59.0 

71.3 

62.1 

47.6 

1875 

62.5 

63.3 

72.1 

60.8 

48.2 

1876 

61.7 

59.9 

74.6 

62.3 

49.0 

1877    _. 

61.2 

61.2 

73.5 

63.4 

49.9 

1878 

61.3 

60.5 

72.9 

62.5 

49.9 

1879 

60.3 

59.3 

72.9 

60.9 

49.2 

1880  

57.5 

55.0 

69.1 

59.9 

44.5 

1881 

59.2 

60.4 

68.5 

58.5 

51.0 

1882 

58.5 

57.6 

71.1 

58.8 

45.9 

1883    

58.8 

58.5 

72.4 

60.1 

45.4 

1884  _  

58.S 

57.9 

69.8 

60.0 

45.9 

Totals  

1926.4 

1903.1 

2295.6 

1967.1 

1496.1 

Averages 

|60.2 

59.5 

71.7 

61.5 

t48.3 

*  The  Winter  tables  are  for  the  Winters  from  1852-3  to  1883-4,  both  inclusive. 
f  Mean  for  thirty-two  years. 
|  Mean  for  thirty-one  years. 


11 


The  following  table  gives  the  average  annual  barometer,  thermom- 
eter, and  hygrometer,  the  maximum  and  minimum  temperature, 
observations  is  the  amount  of  moisture  or  relative 
ere,  also  the  mean  average  for 


The  hygrometrical  observations  is  the 
humidity  contained  in  the  atmosph 


seven  years: 


YEAR. 

Mean  Annual 
'     Barometer. 

1 

Mean  Annual 
Relative 
Humidity. 

Mean  Annual 
Temperature. 

Max.  Yearly 
Temperature. 

Min.  Yearly 
Temperature, 

1878 

1 
29.946 

62.2 

61.3 

100  5     Aug. 

23.5     Dec 

1879 

29.998 

65.7 

60.3 

103.0  —  Aug. 

25.0  —  Dec. 

16SO     

HO.  025 

64.6 

57.7 

98.0—  July 

25.0  —  Jan. 

1881 

30  026 

66  7 

59  2 

98  6     July 

31  9     Dec 

1882          

30.030 

66.0 

58.2 

99.8  —  Aug. 

27.0  —  Dec. 

1883      

30.034 

69.0 

58.8 

103.5  —  July 

22.0  {  ia"' 

1884     

.   _               29.985 

70.7 

58.8 

100.0—  Aug. 

I  Feb. 
21.0—  Feb. 

Totals       

210.044 

464.9 

414.3 

Highest, 

Lowest, 

mf.       i  QQO 

O1    A         1  QQA 

Averages 

30.006 

66.4 

59.2 

The  Winter  tables  following  this  statement  show  the  average  Winter 
pressure,  temperature,  and  relative  humidity,  the  highest  and  lowest 
temperature  for  the  Winter  seasons  of  1877-8  to  1883-4,  and  the  mean 
average  for  seven  years : 


WINTER  OF  — 

Mean  Winter 
Barometer. 

Mean  Winter 
Relative 
Humidity. 

Mean  Winter 
Temperature. 

Max.  Winter 
Temperature. 

Min.  Winter 
Temperature. 

1877-78  

30.004 

77.1 

49.9 

67  0     Dec 

27  0     Jan 

1878-79  

30.120 

68.3 

49.2 

73  5  —  Feb 

23  5     Dec 

1879-80 

30.163 

77  2 

44  5 

61  0     Fcb 

25  0  1  Dec' 

1880-81 

30.116 

84  0 

51  0 

67  0     Feb 

^0<U  1  Jan. 
35  0     Jan 

1881-82 

30  169 

76  4 

45  9 

6°  8     Fcb 

on  A      T)p/« 

1882-83    

30.189 

77.9 

45.4 

71  7     Feb 

22  0  f  Jan> 

1  883-84 

30  120 

83  0 

45  9 

71  0     Fcb 

-*1  (  Feb. 

01    f)        T?PU 

Totals...       __  _ 

210.881 

543  9 

331  8 

70  =        i  070  n 

91  fl      1884 

Averages  

30.126 

77.7 

47.3 

12 


The  average  Spring  pressure,  relative  humidity  and  temperature,  the 
maximum  and  minimum  Spring  temperature,  also  the  mean  average 
for  seven  years  past,  will  be  found  as  follows,  viz.: 


SPRING  OF  — 

Mean  Spring 
Barometer. 

Mean  Spring 
Relative 
Humidity. 

Mean  Spring 
Temperature. 

Max.  Spring 
Temperature. 

Min.  Spring 
Temperature. 

1878 

29.936 

67.1 

60.5 

91.0—  May 

40.0—  March 

1879 

30.046 

68.4 

59.3 

91.0     May 

38.0—  March 

1880 

30  061 

66  2 

55  0 

86.0     May 

29.0—  March 

1881 

30.006 

68.4 

60.4 

88.8—  Ma  v 

37.0     March 

1882 

30.037 

61.9 

57.6 

94.6     Mav 

34.1  —March 

1883                    _— 

30.009 

68.9 

58.5 

9S.O     May 

39.8—  April 

1884 

29.968 

73.3 

57.9 

85.0—  Mav 

39.0     March 

Totals           

210.063 

474.2 

409.2 

Highest. 

Lowest, 

98  0     18S3 

29  0     1880 

30  009 

67.7 

58.5 

The  tabulated  statement  following  indicates  the  average  Summer 
pressure,  relative  humidity  and  temperature,  the  maximum  and 
minimum  Summer  temperature,  and  the  mean  average  for  seven 

years: 


SUMMER  OF  — 

Mean  Summer 
Barometer. 

Mean  Summer 
Rel.  Humidity. 

Mean  Summer 
Temperature. 

Max.  Summer 
Temperature. 

0 

Min.  Summer 
Temperature. 

1878 

29.817 

54.7 

72.9 

100.5  —  Aug. 

49.0—  June 

1879                        .         

29.821 

52.7 

72.9 

103.0     Aug. 

51.0—  July 

1880 

29.880 

59.3 

69.1 

98.0—  July 

49.0—  Aug. 

1881 

29.903 

56.3 

68.5 

98.6—  July 

48.0      June 

1882 

29.898 

57.0 

71.1 

99.8     Aug. 

51.2—  June 

1883 

29.908 

58.4 

72.4 

1  03.5—  July 

49.8—  June 

1884 

29.919 

63.3 

69.8 

100.0—  Aug. 

52.9—  June 

Totals      

209.146 

401.7 

496.7 

Highest, 

Lowest, 

103  5     1883 

48  0  —  1881. 

29  878 

57  4 

71.0 

The  following  table  shows  the  average  Autumn  pressure,  rel 
humidity  and  temperature,  the  maximum  and  minimum  Fall 
perature,  and  the  mean  averages  for  the  past  eight  years : 


relative 
tern- 


FALL  OF  — 

Mean  Fall 
Barometer. 

Mean  Fall 
Rel.  Humidity. 

Mean  Fall 
Temperature. 

Max.  Fall 
Temperature. 

Min.  Fall 
Temperature. 

1877 

29.973 

54.3 

63.4 

88.0—  Sept. 

37.0—  Nov. 

1878                

29.991 

54.4 

62.5 

92.0—  Sept. 

34.0—  Nov. 

1879 

30.000 

65.2 

60.9 

96.0—  Sept. 

33.0—  Nov. 

1880 

30.035 

54.9 

59.9 

92.0—  Sept. 

27.0—  Nov 

1881 

30.026 

58.4 

58.5 

96.0     Sept. 

32.0     Nov. 

1882 

30.024 

69.6 

58.8 

99.6—  Sept. 

34.0     Nov. 

1883 

30.011 

68.8 

60.1 

101.0—  Sept. 

2y.O—  Nov. 

1884 

30  000 

69  1 

60.0 

93.5     Sept. 

37.7     Nov. 

Totals 

240.060 

494.7 

484.1 

Highest, 

Lowest, 

101  0     1883 

27  0     1880. 

30  008 

61  8 

80  5 

13 


The  table  following  will  be  found  to  contain  the  average  dir  ection  of 
the  wind,  the  total  velocity,  the  rainfall,  and  the  clear,  fair,  and 
cloudy  days;  also,  days  rain  fell  during  the  Winter  months  from 
1877-8  to  1883-4: 


WINTER  OF  — 

M'  n  Winter 
Direction. 

Velocity 
for  Winter. 

Kainfall 
for  Winter. 

Clear  Days. 

Fair  Days. 

Cloudy  Days. 

Days  Rain 
Fell. 

1877-78  

S.E. 

13.452 

18.74 

26 

28 

36 

39 

1  878-79 

N. 

12.650 

7.53 

44 

31 

15 

23 

1879-80  

S.E. 

13.735 

6.88 

39 

17 

35 

29 

1880-81  
1881-82  

S.E. 

N. 

16.092 
14.611 

23.01 

7.56 

14 

46 

26 
26 

50 

18 

43 
25 

1882-83  

S.E. 

11.131 

4.47 

52 

30 

8 

15 

1883-84 

S.E. 

12.294 

8.33 

47 

25 

19 

25 

Totals 

93.965 

76.52 

268 

183 

181 

199 

Averages 

S.E. 

13.424 

10.931 

38.3 

26.1 

25  9 

284 

The  average  direction  of  the  wind,  total  velocity,  the  rainfall,  and 
number  of  clear,  fair,  and  cloudy  days,  also  number  of  days  rain  fell 
during  the  Spring  season,  from  1878  to  1884,  will  be  found  in  the  fol- 
lowing tabulated  statement: 


SPRING  OF— 

Mean  Spring 
•  Direction. 

Velocity  for 
Spring. 

Rainfall  for 
Spring. 

Clear  Days. 

Fair  Days. 

Cloudy  Days. 

Days  Rain 
Fell. 

1878_  _. 

S. 

13.962 

4.33 

45 

28 

19 

21 

1879 

S.E. 

14.530 

8.84 

39 

34 

19 

31 

1880     __  

S.E. 

19.653 

16.66 

49 

24 

19 

25 

1881 

S. 

14.966 

3.01 

60 

22 

10 

12 

1882 

N. 

17.774 

6.12 

57 

19 

16 

19 

1883  

S. 

15.825 

7.22 

54 

26 

12 

21 

1884 

s.w. 

18.168 

12.52 

46 

23 

23 

25 

Totals  

114.878 

58.70 

350 

176 

118 

154 

Averages  

s.  . 

16.411 

8.386 

50.0 

25.1 

16.9 

22.1 

The  statistics  following  will  be  found  to  contain  the  mean  direction 
of  the  wind,  total  velocity,  the  rainfall,  the  number  of  clear,  fair,  and 
cloudy  days,  also  the  number  of  days  rain  fell  for  the  Summer  season, 
from  1878  to  1884: 


SUMMER  OF— 

Mean  Sum- 
mer Direc- 
tion. 

Velocity  for 
Summer. 

Rainfall  for 
Summer. 

Clear  Days. 

Fair  Days. 

Cloudy  Days. 

Days  Rain 
Fell. 

1878  

S. 

13.303 

83 

9 

1879 

s. 

13.645 

.13 

81 

11 

3 

1880  ._- 

s. 

16.066 

Sprinkle 

85 

7 

2 

1881 

s. 

16  531 

86 

5 

1 

3 

1882 

s. 

15.449 

.10 

87 

4 

1 

3 

1883_  __. 

s. 

15.609 

89 

3 

1884 

s. 

16.518 

1.45 

76 

9 

6 

7 

Totals 

107.121 

2  18 

587 

48 

8 

18 

Averages  

s. 

15.303 

0.311 

83.9 

6.9 

1.1 

2.6 

14 


The  mean  direction  of  the  wind,  the  total  velocity,  the  rainfall, 
and  number  of  clear,  fair,  and  cloudy  days,  also  the  number  of  days 
rain  fell  for  the  Fall  season  from  1878  to  1884,  will  be  found  recorded 
in  the  following  table: 


FALL  OF  — 

Mean  Fall 
Direction. 

Velocity  for 
Fall. 

Rainfall  for 
Fall. 

Clear  Days. 

Fair  Days. 

Cloudy  Days. 

Days  Kaiu 
Fell. 

1878 

N 

11.269 

1.35 

71 

16 

4 

7 

1879  

s. 

10.492 

2.93 

59 

20 

12 

12 

1880  

N. 

11.518 

.05 

71 

14 

6 

2 

1881 

K. 

12.993 

2.7.", 

73 

15 

3 

11 

1882  

1883  

N.W. 

S. 

12.213 
10.771 

6.42 
2.48 

61 

67 

22 
18 

6 

15 
11 

1884 

N.&S.E. 

10.659 

2.61 

75 

13 

3 

7 

Totals..   

79.915 

18.57 

477 

118 

42 

65 

Averages  

N. 

11.416 

2.653 

68.1 

16.9 

6.0 

9.3 

The  tabulated  statement  below  shows  the  number  of  times  the  wind 
was  observed  blowing  from  the  different  points  of  the  compass  for  the 
Winter  seasons  from  1877-8  to  1883-4 — three  observations  daily: 


WINTER  OF  — 

N. 

N.E. 

K 

S.E. 

S. 

S.W. 

W. 

N.W. 

Calm. 

1877-78  

66 

7 

15 

69 

54 

19 

3 

11 

26 

1878-79 

102 

4 

5 

41 

41 

18 

4 

11 

44 

1879-80 

41 

13 

19 

77 

30 

17 

6 

47 

23 

1880-81  
1881-82  
1882-83  
1883-84  

50 

86 
54 
63 

5 
9 
8 
11 

7 
8 
16 
15 

107 
75 
66 

75 

57 
35 
33 
37 

15 

18 
14 

8 

2 
7 
9 

19 
12 
(50 
40 

8 
20 

,; 

lo 

Total  

462 

57 

85 

510 

287 

109 

39 

200 

145 

Averages.. 

66.0 

8.1 

12.1 

72.9 

41.0 

15.1 

5.6 

28.6 

20.7 

The  following  table  shows  the  number  of  times  the  wind  was 
observed  blowing  from  the  different  points  of  the  compass;  also  the 
number  of  calms  observed  during  the  Spring  season,  from  1878  to 
1884,  and  is  as  follows  from  three  daily  observations: 


SPRING  OF  — 

N. 

N.E. 

, 

S.E. 

S. 

S.AV. 

W. 

N.W. 

Calm. 

1878  

1879 

30 
34 

2 
3 

3 

48 
29 

89 
82 

54 
75 

11 
13 

23 
16 

16 
23 

1SSO  _ 

31 

4 

6 

61 

59 

60 

0 

45 

4 

1881  

50 

4 

4 

42 

71 

71 

10 

14 

10 

1882 

71 

0 

1 

52 

56 

55 

7 

2J 

13 

1883  

13 

3 

8 

57 

91 

50 

9 

42 

3 

1884  

29 

2 

7 

51 

70 

75 

11 

27 

3 

Totals  

258 

18 

30 

340 

518 

440 

67 

188 

72 

Averages  __ 

36.9 

2.6 

4.3 

48.6 

72.6 

62.9 

9.6 

26.9 

10.3 

15 


The  wind's  direction  for  the  Summer  months  from  1878  to  1884  will 
be  found  to  be  as  follows : 


SUMMER  OF  — 

N. 

N.E. 

' 

S.E. 

S. 

S.W. 

W. 

N.W. 

Calm. 

1878.  __  

13 

1 

0 

25 

161 

4, 

i 

15 

8 

1879 

24 

1 

0 

5 

111 

79 

8 

37 

11 

1880  

14 

0 

1 

46 

109 

64 

10 

30 

2 

1881 

21 

1 

0 

58 

115 

55 

6 

16 

4 

1882  __. 

3 

1 

2 

56 

135 

41 

9 

23 

5 

1883 

6 

o 

o 

54 

127 

50 

9 

29 

o 

1884   .  _ 

2 

0 

3 

52 

107 

76 

8 

24 

3 

Totals  

83 

4 

6 

296 

865 

412 

56 

174 

33 

Averages.  _ 

11.9 

0.6 

0.9 

42.3 

123.6 

58.9 

8.0 

24.9 

4.7 

The  table  following  shows  the  direction  of  wind  during  the  Fall 
months,  from  1878  to  1884,  both  years  included: 


FALL  OF  — 

N. 

N.E. 

E. 

S.E. 

S. 

S.W. 

W. 

N.W. 

Calm. 

1877  

59 

10 

5 

19 

78 

29 

9 

31 

33 

1878 

75 

5 

3 

12 

64 

36 

15 

37 

26 

1879 

45 

9 

9 

41 

66 

42 

4 

28 

38 

1880 

75 

7 

7 

40 

55 

37 

12 

30 

10 

1881 

81 

10 

2 

46 

46 

35 

8 

28 

16 

1882 

19 

8 

5 

60 

54 

27 

20 

66 

14 

1883 

30 

4 

10 

62 

66 

29 

g 

53 

12 

1884 

49 

7 

3 

49 

47 

48 

12 

38 

20 

Totals  

433 

60 

44 

329 

476 

283 

86 

311 

169 

Averages.. 

54.1 

7.5 

5.5 

41.1 

59.5 

35.4 

10.8 

38.9 

21.1 

The  following  data  shows  the  number  of  times  the  wind  was 
observed  blowing  from  the  different  points  of  the  compass,  and  also 
the  number  of  calms  occurring  at  the  time  of  observations.  The 
calculations  are  made  from  three  daily  observations,  making  1,095 
observations  during  each  year,  and  1,098  for  1881,  and  is  as  follows: 


YEAR  OF  — 

N. 

N.E. 

E. 

S.E. 

S. 

S.W. 

W. 

N.W. 

Calm. 

1878___  _ 

194 

11 

12 

151 

364 

155 

36 

84 

88 

1879  

165 

18 

14 

140 

306 

220 

29 

104 

100 

1880 

162 

24 

33 

239 

259 

172 

34 

147 

30 

1881  

217 

24 

12 

232 

280 

176 

30 

72 

51 

1882 

167 

14 

21 

251 

276 

145 

43 

140 

37 

1883  

102 

17 

37 

243 

322 

138 

31 

173 

29 

1884 

149 

18 

22 

220 

267 

213 

38 

1?2 

36 

Totals  .__.  . 

1,156 

126 

151 

1,476 

2,074 

1,219 

241 

852 

371 

Averages  

165.1 

18.0 

21  4 

210  9 

296.3 

174  1 

34  4 

121  7 

53  0 

16 


The  following  table  shows  the  total  number  of  clear,  fair,  and 
cloudy  days;  also,  the  number  of  days  in  which  rain  fell  for  each 
year,  from  1878  to  1884 — both  years  included: 


YEAR  OF— 

Clear  Days. 

Fair  Days. 

Cloudy  Days. 

Days  on  which. 
Bain  Fell. 

1878  

225 

81 

59 

67 

1879 

223 

96 

46 

69 

1880                                                    

244 

62 

60 

58 

1881  

233 

68 

64 

69 

1882 

251 

71 

43 

62 

1883.     _                     

260 

77 

26 

46 

1884  

238 

68 

57 

69 

Totals               . 

1,674 

523 

355 

440  ' 

Averages 

239.1 

74  7 

50  7 

62  9 

17 


f  j 

RFCORDS  OF  RAINFALL 


INTERESTING  DATA  UPON  THE  SUBJECT  FROM  VARIOUS  SECTIONS  OF  THE  STATE, 
COMPILED  BY  SERGEANT  BARWICK,  UNITED  STATES  SIGNAL  CORPS. 


The  rainfall  that  was  called  for  through  Sacramento  papers  by  Ser- 
geant Barwick  from  all  portions  of  the  State  some  time  ago  has  been 
in  a  measure  quite  successful,  as  he  has  received  rainfall  records  from 
San  Diego  to  Siskiyou  Counties.  The  data  received  has  been  care- 
fully compiled  and  averages  calculated  by  the  Sergeant,  and  ably 
assisted  in  his  work  by  Lopez  Maulding  of  this  city.  The  tabulated 
matter  will  begin  with  San  Diego  County  and  come  northward.  The 
first  table  is  from  Poway,  San  Diego  County,  and  covers  a  period  from 
November,  1878,  to  December,  1884.  The  data  was  furnished  by 
Adams  Chapin  of  Poway,  volunteer  observer  of  the  United  States 
Signal  Service: 

RAINFALL   AT   POWAY,   SAN   DIEGO   COUNTY. 


K$ 

t, 

04 

g 

^ 

g 

CH 

CH 

j. 

03 

0 

^ 

y 

H 

^ 

H 

1 

p 

I 

ff 

1 

1 

3 
cs 

<<T 

1 
S- 

I 

I 

1 

1 

E 

| 

£ 

s 

i 

& 

I 

| 

0s 

| 

0s 

p 

Hi 

3 

oa 

| 

j 

j 

P 

o 

1 

1 

1 

j 

| 

] 

3 

1878    _ 

.02 

1.57 

1879  

2.88 

1.50 

none 

1.30 

.08 

.20 

none 

none 

none 

.30 

2.75 

4.72 

13.73 

1879-80 

15.61 

1880  

1.13 

1.54 

1.76 

3.10 

.09 

none 

.06 

.16 

none 

.74 

.30 

3.56 

12.44 

1880-81 

10.43 

1881  

1.16 

.60 

2.86 

1.14 

.03 

none 

none 

.0-1 

.03 

1.17 

.20 

.73 

7.96 

1881-82 

13.39 

1882  

6.40 

2.69 

1.13 

.90 

.04 

.09 

none 

.01 

.04 

.29 

.60 

.27 

12.46 

1882-83 

8.47 

1883  

.94 

1.76 

1.87 

1.36 

1.34 

none 

none 

DC 

ne 

none 

1.59 

none 

2.40 

11.26 

1883-84 

29.45 

1884 

1.59 

9.40 

6.96 

4.81 

2.26 

.44 

none 

IK 

ne 

none 

.24 

.38 

5  91 

31.99 

Totals  _ 

14.10 

17.49 

14.58 

12.61 

3.84 

.73  1      .Ofi 

.21 

.07 

4.13  1    4.25 

19.16  1  89.84 

77.35 

Av'ges  _ 

3.350 

2.915 

2.430 

2.102 

.640 

.122 

.010 

.035 

.012 

.688 

.607 

2.737 

14.973 

13.470 

SAN   DIEGO,   SAN   DIEGO   COUNTY. 

The  table  for  this  most  southerly  station  in  California  dates  back 
to  November  1,  1871,  and  includes  to  December  31, 1884.  The  figures 
are  from  the  annual  reports  of  the  Chief  Signal  Officer.  They  show 
the  rainfall  by  calendar  years  and  seasonal  years;  also,  the  totals  and 
averages  by  months: 


18 


* 

s 

N* 

g 

tJ 

g 

| 

£ 

D 

$ 

0 

3 

a 

g 

g2 

H 

p 

^ 

"-i 

2. 

<5 

g 

<-* 

CR 

e+ 

o 

5 

CD 

*? 

Sc 

& 

1 

1 

1 

1 

r 

| 

p 

1 

"1 

1 

1 

2 

H^ 

8, 

1 

i 

! 

| 

I 

1 

1871 

1.19 

1.39  1  _ 

1S72.__ 

.99 

1.63 

.46 

.26 

.12 

none 

none 

.18 

none 

none 

none 

1.41 

5.08 

1871-72 

6.22 

1873  

.34 

4.15 

.11 

.10 

.01 

none 

none 

1.95 

none 

none 

.77 

5.46 

12.89 

1872-73 

8.10 

1874  ___ 

3.11 

3.73 

1.20 

.35 

.32 

none 

.12 

none 

.04 

.53 

.88 

.55 

10.83 

1873-74 

15.00 

1875  

2.38 

.37 

.45 

.12 

.20 

.02 

none 

.21 

39 

none 

2.25 

.41 

6.80 

1874-75 

5.75 

1876__ 

2.47 

2.44 

1.78 

.06 

.05 

.05 

.03 

.06 

.03 

.08 

.04 

.15 

7.24 

1875-76 

9.99 

1877  

1.05 

.23 

1.44 

.26 

.43 

none 

none 

none 

none 

.81 

.06 

3.89 

8.17 

1876-77 

3.71 

1878  

1.45 

4.83 

1.41 

2.91 

.58 

.16 

none 

none 

none 

.96 

none 

1.57 

13.87 

1877-78 

16.10 

1879. 

3.54 

1.04 

.10 

.60 

sprin 

.07 

none 

none 

none 

.29 

2.77 

6.30 

14.71 

1878-79 

7.88 

1880     _ 

.61 

1.50 

1.43 

1.34 

.06 

.06 

.09 

.32 

none 

.53 

.28 

4.15 

10.37 

1879-80 

14.77 

1881_ 

.52 

.45 

1.88 

1.35 

.04 

.05 

none 

.01 

.04 

.24 

.12 

.30      5.00 

1880-81 

9.26 

1882  

4.53 

2.55 

1.02 

.45 

.18 

.07 

none 

none 

.01 

.41 

.39 

.13  !    9.74 

1881-82 

9.51 

1883  .  _ 

1.09 

.95 

.41 

.31 

1.14 

.08 

none 

none 

none 

2.01 

.20 

1.82      8.01 

1882-83 

4.92 

1884  

1.34 

9.05 

6.23 

2.84 

2.17 

.31 

none 

none 

.07 

none 

.11 

4.83 

26.95 

1883-84 

25.97 

Totals 

23  42 

32  92 

17  92 

10.95 

5.30 

.87 

.24 

2.73 

.58 

5.86  i    9.06 

32.36  139.66 

1  137.24 

Av'ges 

1  801 

2  532 

1  378 

.842 

.408 

.067 

.018 

.210 

.045 

4.50 

.647 

2.312  10.743 

10.557 

LOS   ANGELES,   LOS   ANGELES   COUNTY. 

The  table  for  Los  Angeles  is  compiled  from  reports  of  the  Chief 
Signal  Officer,  and  covers  the  period  from  July  1,  1877,  to  December 
31,  1884,  and  is  a  record  of  the  rainfall  by  months,  by  calendar  years, 
and  seasonal  years.  It  also  shows  totals  and  averages  for  each  month 
from  the  date  of  opening  the  station  to  December  31, 1884: 


I 

s 

1 

? 

2. 

| 

«H 

e 

g 

£ 

I 

1 

| 

o 

I 

i 

I 

1 

1 

P 

y 

g. 

1 

i 

3 

1 

S1 

o 

| 

i 

i 

| 

1877 

86 

45 

3  93 

*5  24 

1878  
1879  

3.33 
3.59 

7.68 
.97 

2.57 
.49 

1.71 
1.19 

.66 
.24 

.07 
.03 

none 
none 

none 
none 

none 

none 

.14 
.93 

none 
3.44 

4.70 
6.53 

20.86 
17.41 

18~77-78 
1878-79 

21.68 
11.35 

1880  

1.33 

1.56 

1.45 

5.06 

.04 

none 

sprin 

sprin 

none 

.14 

.67 

8.40 

18.65 

1879-80 

20.34 

1881  

1.43 

.36 

1.66 

.46 

.01 

none 

none 

sprin 

sprin 

.82 

.27 

.52 

5.53 

1880-81 

13.13 

1882  

1.01 

2.66 

2.66 

1.83 

.63 

sprin 

none 

none 

sprin 

.05 

1.82 

.08 

10.74 

1881-82 

10.40 

1883  

1.62 

3.47 

2.87 

.15 

2.02 

.03 

sprin 

none 

none 

1.42 

none 

2.56 

14.14 

1882-83 

12.03 

1884  

3.15 

13.37 

12.36 

3.58 

.39 

1.39 

.02 

.02 

sprin 

.39 

1.07 

4.65 

40.37 

1883-84 

38.26 

Totals 

15.46 

30  07 

24  06 

13  98 

3  99 

1  52 

02 

02 

4  75 

7  72 

31  37 

127  70 

127  19 

Av'ges 

2.209 

4.296 

3437 

1  997 

5  70 

217 

002 

002 

594 

965 

3  921 

18  243 

18  170 

*  Total  for  six  months. 


19 


VISALIA,   TULARE   COUNTY. 

The  rainfall  at  Visalia,  Tulare  County,  was  taken  from  the  United 
States  Signal  Service  annual  reports,  and  extends  from  July,  1877,  to 
June  15,  1883,  on  which  date  the  Signal  Service  station  at  that  point 
was  discontinued: 


H 

C-l 

q 

g 

> 

g 

CH 

fcH 

> 

ce 

0 

j^ 

H 

H 

M 

H 

d 
d 

P 

1 

E 

0, 

f 

1 

f 

1 

H 

3 

! 

1 

I 

£ 

1 

t 
o5 

| 

3 

| 

1 

1 

or  Year  _ 

81 

Cfi 

1877 

none 

none 

none 

none 

.53 

.83 

1877-78 

10.49 

1878  

3.25 

3.98 

1.13 

.69 

.08 

none 

none 

none 

none 

.36 

.10 

.20 

9.79 

1878-79 

3.95 

1879  

.70 

.30 

.53 

1.23 

.47 

.06 

none 

none 

none 

.92 

1.03 

2.16 

7.40 

1879-80 

12.81 

1880  

.98 

3.14 

.48 

3.82 

.28 

none 

sprin. 

none 

none 

.13 

.35 

5.03 

14.21 

1880-81 

11.70 

1881  

2.71 

1.10 

1.20 

.86 

.29 

none 

sprin. 

.03 

.09 

.31 

.52 

.27 

7.38 

1881-82 

6.73 

1882  _  _ 

.87 

1.86 

1.47 

.95 

.37 

.02 

none 

none 

.21 

1.31 

.83 

.15 

8.04 

1882-83 

8.17 

1883 

.04 

.54 

2.48 

1.79 

.82 

« 

Totals 

8.55 

1(1.92 

9.34 

2.31 

.08 

sprin. 

.03 

.30 

3.03 

3.36 

8.64 

46.82 

53.85 

Av'ges  _ 

1.425 

1.820 

1.215 

1.557 

.385 

.013 

sprin. 

.005 

.050 

.505 

.560 

1.440 

7.803 

8.975 

SALINAS,   MONTEREY   COUNTY. 

The  rainfall  of  Salinas,  Monterey  County,  was  furnished  by  Dr.  E. 
K.  Abbott,  and  extends  from  July,  1872,  to  December  31,  1884,  show- 
ing the  rainfall  by  months,  years,  and  seasons;  also  the  averages: 


3 

If 

CP 

g 

> 

g 

•ji 

c, 

> 

8P 

0 

* 

b 

H 

| 

g 

1 

a 

? 

| 

2. 

* 

i 

§ 

!? 

o" 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i     § 

g 

CD 

3 

3 

I-h 

3 

"•*» 

3 

1 

1 

& 

2» 

3 

1 

i 

i 

i 

CD 

1 

o 

| 

| 

1 

j 

, 

! 

§ 

1872 

none 
none 

none 
none 

.01 
.10 

,02 

.10 

.02 
.20 

6.80 
4.25 

lf.25 

1872-73 
1873-74 

13.45 
11.17 

1873  

3.40 

2.40 

.80 

none 

none 

none 

1874  

3.42 

none 

2.15 

-.95 

none 

none 

none 

none 

none 

1.83 

1.42 

none 

9.77 

1874-75 

8.59 

1875  

4.50 

.15 

.69 

none 

none 

none 

none 

none 

none 

none 

5.17 

2.18 

12.69 

1875-76 

21.59 

1876  

6.16 

3.55 

4.52 

none 

.01 

none 

.10 

none 

.05 

1.04 

.05 

none 

15.48 

1876-77 

4.74 

1877  

2.54 

.16 

.30 

.10 

.40 

none 

none 

none 

none 

.12 

1.00 

2.39 

7.01 

1877-78 

23.82 

1878  

7.05 

8.77 

2.57 

1.92 

none 

none 

none 

none 

.05 

.60 

.20 

.35 

21.51 

1878-79 

•  10.94 

1879  

2.42 

2.81 

1.85 

1.69 

.82 

.15 

none 

none 

none 

1.05 

1.08 

2.28 

14.15 

1879-80 

13.22 

1880  

1.65 

1.16 

1.64 

3.90 

.46 

none 

none 

none 

none 

none 

.57 

5.56 

14.94 

1880-81 

14.07 

1881  

3.32 

2.32 

1.26 

.66 

none 

.38 

none 

none 

.10 

.28 

.67 

1.24 

10.23 

1881-82 

12.93 

1882  

1.78 

2.31 

4.86 

1.01 

.49 

.19 

none 

none 

.38 

1.43 

.65 

1.95 

15.05 

1882-83 

11.79 

1883.  

.91 

.95 

2  26 

1.28      1.98 

none 

none 

none 

.19 

1.19        .25 

.90 

o.  in 

1883-84 

20.25 

1884  

1.71 

4.49 

5.U9  i    3.05 

.72 

2.66 

none 

.18 

.11 

1.79        .28 

4.46 

24.54 

Totals.  _ 

38.86 

29.07 

27.99 

14.56 

4.88 

3.38 

.10 

.18 

.99 

9.45 

11.56 

32.36 

166.53 

166.56 

Av'ges  _ 

3.238 

2.422 

2.332 

1.213 

.407 

.282 

.008 

.015 

.076 

.724 

.889  j  2.489 

13.878 

13.880 

20 


SAN    FRANCISCO. 


The  rainfall  from  1849  to  1875  in  the  following  table  was  taken 
from  the  report  of  the  State  Agricultural  Society  for  1874,  and  was 
furnished  to  that  society  by  Thomas  Tennant.  The  rainfall  from 
1875  to  date  is  compiled  from  the  reports  of  the  Chief  Signal  Officer: 


H 
1 

CH 

g 

1 

05     * 

K 

g 

3 

> 

g 

s 

5 

o> 

CH 
B 

•5T 

> 
z 

CT5 

d 
» 

1 

Octobei 

!?! 

1 

Decem 

a 

£ 

| 

Inches 

<3 

3 

1 

1 

t 

c 
^ 

8, 

[ 

! 

H 

05 

! 

1849 

none 
none 
none 

none 
none 
none 

none 
.33 
1.03 

3.14 
none 
.21 

8.66 
.92 
2.12 

6.20 
1.05 
7.10 

1850  
1851  

8.34 

.72 

1.77 
.54 

4.53 
1.94 

.46 
1.23 

none 
.67 

none 
none 

17.40 
15.56 

1849-50 
1850-51 

33.10 
7.40 

186-2  

.58 

.14 

6.68 

.26 

.32 

none 

none 

none 

none 

.80 

5.31 

13.20 

27.29 

1851-52 

18.44 

1853  

3.92 

1.42 

4.86 

5.37 

.35 

none 

none 

.04 

.46 

.12 

2.28 

2.32 

21.14 

1852-53 

35.26 

1854  

3.88 

8.04 

3.51 

3.12 

.02 

.08 

none 

.01 

.15 

2.41 

.34 

.81 

22.37 

1853-54 

23.87 

1855  

3.67 

4.77 

4.64 

5.00 

1.88 

none 

none 

none 

none 

none 

.67 

5.76 

26.39 

1854-55 

23.68 

1856  

9.40 

.50 

1.60 

2.94 

.76 

.03 

.02 

none 

.07 

.45 

2.79 

3.75 

22.31 

1855-56 

21.66 

1857  

2.45 

8.59 

1.62 

none 

.02 

•12 

none 

.05 

none 

.93 

3.01 

4.14 

20.93 

1856-57 

19.88 

1858  

4.36 

1.83 

5.55 

1.55 

.34 

.05 

.05 

.16 

none 

2.74 

.69 

6.14 

23.46 

1857-58 

21.81 

1859  

1.28 

6.32 

3.02 

.27 

1.55 

none 

none 

.02 

.03 

.05 

7.28 

1.57 

21.39 

1858-59 

22.22 

1860  

1.64 

1.60 

3.99 

3.14 

2.86 

.09 

.21 

none 

none 

.19 

.58 

6.16 

20.46 

1859-60 

22.27 

1861  

2.47 

3.72 

4.08 

.51 

1.00 

.08 

none 

none 

.02 

none 

4.10 

9.54 

25.52 

1860-61 

19.00 

1862_  

24.36 

7.53 

2.20 

.73 

.74 

.05 

none 

none 

none 

.40 

.15 

2.35 

38.51 

1861-62 

49.27 

1863  

3.63 

3.19 

2.06 

1.04 

.26 

none 

none 

none 

.03 

none 

2.55 

1,80 

14.56 

1862-63 

13.08 

1864  

1.83 

none 

1.52 

1.57 

.78 

none 

none 

.21 

.01 

.13 

6.68 

8.91 

21.64 

1863-64     10.08 

1865  

5.14 

1.34 

.74 

.94 

.63 

none 

none 

none 

.24 

.26 

4.19 

.58 

14.06 

1864-65      24.73 

1866  

10.88 

2.12 

3.04 

.12 

1.40 

.04 

none 

none  |      .11 

none      3.35 

15.16    36.28 

1865-66      22.93 

1867  J    5.16 

7.20 

1.58 

2.36 

none 

none 

none 

none 

.04 

.20      3.41 

10.69  !  30.64 

1866-67      34.92 

1868  

9.50 

6.13 

6.30      2.31 

.03 

.23 

none 

none 

none 

.15  1    1.18 

4.34  1  30.17 

1867-68     38.84 

1869  

6.35 

3.90 

3.14      2.19 

.08 

.02 

none 

none 

.12 

1.29      1.19 

4.31    22.59 

1868-69      21.35 

1870  

3.89 

4.78 

2.00 

1.53 

.20 

none 

none 

none 

.03 

none 

.43 

3.38    16.24 

1869-70     19.31 

1871  

3.07      3.76 

1.29 

1.93 

.21 

none 

none 

none 

.03 

.11 

3.72 

16.74 

30.86 

1870-71     14.10 

1872  

4.22      6.97 

1.64 

1.10 

.16 

.02 

none 

none 

.14 

.21 

2.62 

7.25 

24.33 

1871-72     34.71 

1873  

2.17 

4.24 

.78 

.52 

.01 

.08 

.03 

.15 

none 

.68 

1.31 

10.12 

20.09 

1872-73     18.02 

1874  

4.85 

1.83 

3.55 

1.04 

.34 

.08 

none 

none 

.83 

2.73 

5.92 

.28    21.45 

1873-74     23.98 

1875  

6.97 

.20 

1.08 

.02 

.11 

1.01 

none 

none 

none 

.24 

7.27 

4.15 

21.05 

1874-75     19.15 

1876_  

7.55      4.92 

5.49 

1.29 

.24 

.04 

.01 

.01 

.38 

3.36 

.25 

none 

23.54 

1875-76     31.21 

1877  

4.32      1.18 

1.08 

.26 

.18 

.01 

.02 

none 

none 

•65 

1.57 

2.66 

11.93 

1876-77     11.04 

1878  

11.97 

12.52 

4.56      1.06 

.16 

.01 

.01 

none        .55 

1.27 

.57 

„  .58 

33.26 

1877-78 

35.17 

1879  

3.52 

4.90 

8.75 

1.89 

2.35 

.05 

.01 

.02 

sprin 

.78 

4.03 

4.46 

30.76 

1878-79 

24.46 

1880  

2.23  \    1.87 

2.08 

10.06 

1.12 

none 

none 

none 

none        .05 

.33 

12.33 

30.07 

1879-80 

26.63 

1881  

8.69 

4.64 

.90 

2.00 

.22 

.69 

none 

none 

.25  I      .54 

1.94 

3.85 

23.72 

1880-81 

29.86 

1882  

1.68 

2.96 

3.45 

1.22 

.21 

.04 

none 

none 

.26      2.66 

4.18 

2.01 

18.67 

1881-82 

16.14 

1883  

1.92 

1.04 

3.01 

1.51 

3.52 

.01 

none 

none 

.42 

1.48 

1.60 

92 

15.43 

1882-83 

20.12 

1884  

3.94 

6.65 

8.24 

6.33 

.23 

2.57 

sprin 

.04 

.33 

2.55 

.26 

7.68 

38.82 

1883-84 

32.42 

Totals  __ 

180.45 

133.11  114.50 

66.87 

23.04 

5.40        .36  1      .71 

5.86    30.78    97.45  Il92.26 

832.89 



840.11 

Av'ges  _ 

5.156 

3.803 

3.271 

1.911 

.658 

154 

.010      -020 

.162      .855    2.709 

5.340 

23  797  1 

24.003 

21 


OAKLAND,    ALAMEDA    COUNTY. 

The  rainfall  record  below  was  taken  by  Mr.  James  Hutchison,  of 
the  Bay  Nursery,  Oakland,  and  furnished  to  Sergeant  Barwick  by  Dr. 
J.  B.  Trembley,  of  Oakland.  It  shows  the  rainfall  by  months,  by 
years,  and  by  seasons,  along  with  the  monthly  totals  and  averages  for 
eleven  years,  extending  from  October,  1873,  to  December,  1884: 


1                  ^       a    la       ^       2       «3*       §       "§•       f 

c 
£ 

i    i    i    i 

if.'] 

i             j 

* 

nc 

>-t 

| 

1 

? 

f      1 

1873 

.60 
2.34 
.30 
4.74 

.60 
9.18 
7.83 
.25 

10.18 
.31 
4.10 
none 

| 

1874  
1875  
1876  

5.60 
6.15 
5.28 

1.80 
.30 
4.87 

5.25 
1.65 
4.55 

1.25 
none 
.93 

.75 
.10 
.45 

none 
1.64 
.24 

none 
none 
.10 

none 
none 
none 

none 
none 
.15 

26.48 
22.07 
21.56 

1873-74 
1874-75 

1875-76 

26.03 
21.67 

28.55 

1877.  

4.19 

1.42 

.96 

.22 

.33 

none 

.18 

none 

none 

.45 

1.62 

1.75 

11.12 

1876-77 

12.36 

1878  

10.82 

11.63 

4.30 

1.18 

.40 

none 

none 

none 

.57 

1.85 

.65 

.31 

31.71 

1877-78 

32.33 

1879  

3.84 

5.65 

7.96 

1.17 

1.39 

.16 

none 

none 

none 

.70 

2.98 

5.06 

28.91 

1878-79 

23.55 

1880  

1.71 

2.19 

1.70 

8.46 

1.04 

none 

none    none 

none 

.05 

.35 

12.57 

28.07 

1879-80 

23.84 

1881  

10.48 

3.95 

.88 

1.40 

..50 

1.16 

none 

none 

.40 

.82 

1.49 

5.09 

26.17 

1880-81 

31.34 

1882  

2.42 

2.05 

4.20 

1.51 

.15 

none 

none 

none 

.42 

2.65 

4.33 

1.14 

18.87 

1881-82 

18.13 

1883  

1.95 

.70 

3.33 

2.20 

3.50 

none 

none  !  none 

1.00 

1.03 

.90 

1.15 

15.76 

1882-83 

20.22 

1884  

3.81 

5.25 

8.59 

5.79 

.55 

3.03 

none 

.25 

.35 

2.80 

.05 

7.73 

38.20 

1883-84 

31.10 

Totals  __ 

56.25 

39.81 

43.37 

24.11 

9.16 

6.23 

.28 

.25 

2.89  1  18.33    30.23 

49.39 

268.92 



269.12 

Av'ges  _ 

5.114 

3.619  i  ?,.!I43 

2.192 

.833 

.566 

.025 

.023 

.263  1  1.666 

2.748    4.490 

24.447 



24.465 

1 

| 

i 

22 


SACRAMENTO,  SACRAMENTO  COUNTY. 

The  following  important  table  of  rainfall  at  Sacramento,  from  Sep- 
tember, 1849,  to  December  31,  1884,  has  been  in  the  main  published 
heretofore,  but  is  now  extended  to  include  December  31,  1884,  thus 
covering  a  period  of  thirty-five  years  and  four  months.  It  was  col- 
lated from  the  records  of  Dr.  T.  M.  Logan,  Dr.  F.  W.  Hatch,  and 
those  of  the  United  States  Signal  Service  office: 


i 

g 

g 

o* 

3 

f 

1 

f 

a 

f 

1 

¥ 

3 

1 

o 
g 

1 

1 

| 

•p 

3 

£ 

11 

1 

1 

o 

2, 

j 

1 

i 

i 

| 

8 

! 

1849                    ' 

! 

.25 

1.50 

2.25 

12.50 

1849-50 

36.00 

1850  !    4.50 

.50 

10.00 

4.25 

.25 

none 

none 

none 

none 

none 

sprin 

sprin 

19.50 

1850-51 

4.71 

1851  .65 

.35 

1.88 

1.14 

.69 

none 

none 

n 

jne 

1.00 

.18 

2.14 

7.07 

15.10 

1851-52 

17.98 

185?              .58 

.12 

6.40 

.19 

.30 

none 

none 

n 

me 

sprin 

none 

6.00 

13.41 

27.00 

1852-53 

36.36 

1853  3.00 

2.00 

7.00 

3.50 

1.45 

sprin 

sprin 

none 

sprin  !  sprin 

1.50 

1.54 

19.99 

1853-54 

20.06 

1854  

3.25 

8.50 

3.25 

1.50 

.21 

.31 

none 

sp 

rin 

sprin 

1.01 

.65 

1.15 

19.83 

1854-55 

18.62 

1855  ___ 

2.67 

3.46 

4.20 

4.32 

1.15 

.01 

none 

n 

me 

sprin 

none 

.75 

2.00 

18.56 

1855-56 

13.76 

1856  4.92 

.69 

1.40 

2.13 

1.84 

.03 

none 

none 

sprin 

.20 

.65 

2.40 

14.26 

1856-57 

10.46 

1857  1    1.38 

4.80 

.68 

sprin 

sprin 

.35 

none 

sp 

rin 

none 

.66 

2.41 

2.63 

12.91 

1857-58 

15.00 

1858  |    2.44 

2.46 

2.88 

1.21 

.20 

.10 

.01 

sprin 

spriu 

3.01 

.15 

4.34 

16.80 

1858-59 

16.03 

1859  I      .96 

3.91 

1.64 

.98  i    1.04 

none 

none 

n 

me 

.02 

none 

6.48 

1.83 

16.86 

1859-60 

22.09 

1860  j    2.31 

.93 

5.11 

2.87 

2.49 

.02 

.63 

n 

me 

.06 

.91 

.18 

4.28 

19.19 

1860-61 

16.10 

1861  2.67 

2.92 

3.32 

.48 

.59 

.14 

.55 

none 

none 

sprin 

2.17 

8.64 

21.38 

1861-62 

35.56 

1862  !  15.04 

4.26 

2.80 

.82 

1.81 

.01 

none 

.01 

none 

.36 

sprin 

2.33 

27.44 

1862-63 

11.58 

1863  1.73 

2.75      2.36 

1.69 

.36 

none 

none 

none 

sprin 

none 

1.49 

1.82 

12.20    1863-64 

7.87 

1864  1.08 

.19      1.30 

1.08        .74 

.09 

none 

.08 

sprin 

.12 

6.72 

7.87 

19.27    1864-65 

22.51 

1865  4.78 

.71 

.48 

1.37 

.46 

none 

sprin 

none 

.08 

.48 

2.43 

.36 

11.15 

1865-66 

17.93 

1866  7.70 

2.01 

2.02 

.48 

2.25 

.10 

.02 

n 

me 

none 

sprin 

2.43 

9.51 

26.52 

1866-67 

25.30 

1867            3.44 

7.10 

1.01 

1.80        .01 

none 

none 

n 

me 

.01 

noue 

3.81 

12.85 

30.03 

1867-68 

32.79 

1868  6.04      3.15 

4.35 

2.31 

.27 

sprin 

none 

none 

none 

none        .77 

2.61 

19.50  1  1868-69 

16.64 

1869  4.79  i    3.63 

2.94 

1.24        .65 

.01 

none 

n 

me 

sprin 

2.12        .85      1.96 

18.19    1869-70 

13.57 

1870.  '    1.37      3.24 

1.64 

2.12  1      .27 

spriu 

sprin 

sprin 

none 

.02 

.58        .97 

10.21 

1870-71 

8.47 

1871  |    2.08 

1.92 

.69 

1.45  1      .76 

spriu 

none 

n 

me 

sprin 

.21 

1.22  1  10.59 

18.92 

1871-72 

23.65 

1872.  4.04 

4.74 

1.94 

.61 

.28 

.02 

none    IK 

me 

sprin 

.22 

1.93  1    5.39 

19.17 

1872-73     14.21 

1873  !    1.23 

4.30 

.55 

.51 

none 

sprin 

.02  [  sprin 

none 

.31 

1.21    10.01 

18.20 

1873-74!   22.90 

1*74____'    5.20      1.8(5 

3.05 

.89 

.37 

sprin 

sprin 

noue 

.05  j    2.26 

3.80        .44 

17.-J-2    1874-75  S    17.7l> 

1875  8.70        .55 

.80 

sprin 

sprin 

1.10 

none 

n 

jne 

none         .44 

6.20      5.52 

23.31  ;  1875-76 

26.5:1. 

1876  __      4.99 

3.75 

4.15 

1.10 

.15 

none 

.21 

.02 

sprin  '    3.45 

.30  !  none 

18.12  i  1876-77 

8.9(V 

1877  

2.77 

1.04 

.56 

.19        .64 

.01  j  sprin   sp 

rin 

none        .73 

1.07 

1.43      8.44 

1877-78  '   24.86 

1878  

9.26 

8.04 

3.09 

1.07 

.17 

none    none    IK 

me 

.29 

.55 

.51 

.47 

23.45 

1878-79 

17.85 

1879  

3.18      3.88 

4.88 

2.66 

1.30 

.13 

spriu   spriu 

none 

.88 

2.05 

3.41 

22.37 

1879-80 

26.47 

1880  

1.64 

1.83 

1.70 

14.20 

.76 

none 

sprin 

n 

me 

none 

none 

.05 

11.81 

31.99 

1880-81 

26.57 

1881  

6.14 

5.06 

1.37 

1.64 

sprin 

.50 

sprin 

n 

me 

.30 

.55 

1.88 

3.27 

20.71 

1881-82     16.51 

1882  

1.89 

2.40 

3.78 

1.99 

.35 

.10 

sprin 

n 

me 

.57 

2.63 

3.22 

1.13 

18.06 

1882-83 

18.11 

1883  

2.23 

1.11 

3.70 

.67 

2.85 

none 

none 

none 

.90 

.97 

.61 

.44    13.48    1883-84 

24.78 

1884  

3.43 

4.46 

8.14 

4.32        .06 

1.45 

none 

sprin 

.60 

2.01 

none 

10.45    34.92    1884-85 



Totals 

132.08 

102.68 

105.06   66.78    25.72      4.48 

1.14 

.11      4.13    25.78 

68.46 

166.40  685.95 

688.49 

Av'ges, 

j 

.003 

35  years 

3.774 

2.934 

3.002 

1.908      .735 

.128 

.032 

*  .115  *  .716 

*1.902 

*4.622 

19.599 

19.671 

*  Mean  for  thirty-six  years.     All  others  for  thirty-five  years. 


23 


RAINFALL   AT   FOLSOM,   SACRAMENTO   COUNTY. 

The  rainfall  data  tabulated  below  is  from  Folsom,  Sacramento 
County,  and  was  furnished  Sergeant  Barwick  by  J.  H.  Sturgis,  volun- 
teer observer  of  the  United  States  Signal  Service  at  that  point.  The 
rainfall  is  from  September,  1871,  to  December,  1884,  showing  the 
totals,  averages,  yearly  and  seasonal  averages  for  the  past  thirteen 
years: 


H 

c, 

a? 

g 

> 

g 

t-i 

^ 

> 

02 

0 

>z! 

y 

H 

m 

4 

I 

e 

1 

2. 

3 

1 

c 

I 

•0 

S" 

1 

1 

I 

1 

1 

1 

1 

S 

. 

f 

! 

| 

g 

1 

r 

o" 
•i 

B 
O 

c1 

p 

j 

i 

H 

! 

1871 

i 

sprin 

.55 

1.95 

13.12 

1871-72 

28.82 

1872  

5.50 

4.72 

1.60 

.63 

.75 

sprin 

none 

sprin 

sprin 

.25 

2.80 

6.53 

22.78 

1872-73 

15.70 

1873  

1.64 

4.05 

.34 

.05 

.03 

none 

.01 

spriu 

sprin 

sprin 

1.39 

10.51 

18.02 

1873-74 

24.45 

1874  

5.26 

2.63 

1.82 

2.03 

.81 

sprin 

sprin 

none 

sprin 

1.66 

519 

.13 

19.53 

1874-75 

15.70 

1875  

6.14 

.04 

1.24 

sprin 

.07 

1.23 

none 

none 

none 

.26 

7.12 

4.49 

20.59 

1875-76 

30.53 

1876  

5.89 

4.06 

6.62 

1.56 

.24 

sprin 

.26 

.03 

none 

3.76 

.25 

none 

22.38 

1876-77 

9.90 

1877  

3.38 

.68 

.81 

sprin 

1.02 

sprin 

sprin 

sprin 

none 

.75 

.54 

1.34 

8.52 

1877-78 

25.00 

1878  

8.41 

8.37 

4.23 

1.10 

.26 

none 

none 

sprin 

.12 

.43 

.62 

.56 

24.10 

1878-79 

21.91 

1879  
1880.  

4.87 
1.51 

4.94 
2.13 

5.43 
1.40 

3.38 
11.39 

1.44 

2.06 

.12 
none 

none 
sprin 

sprin 
none 

none 
none 

1.21 
sprin 

2.20 
.10 

3.19 
9.85 

26.78 
28.44 

1879-80 
1880-81 

25.09 
25.91 

1881  

6.70 

6.07 

1.38 

1.13 

sprin 

.68 

none 

none 

.40 

1.21 

1.57 

3.45 

22.59 

1881-82 

18.28 

1882  

2.38 

3.01 

3.82 

2.51 

.27 

.06 

sprin 

none 

.68 

2.81 

3.95 

.74 

20.23 

1882-83 

22.32 

1883  

2.11 

.80 

5.46 

1.10 

4.57 

none 

none 

none 

1.82 

1.41 

.81 

.92 

19.00 

1883-84 

31.02 

1884 

3.88 

5.92 

8.14 

5.32 

1.16 

1.64 

none 

sprin 

.64 

2.02 

none 

9.13 

37.85 

Totals 

57.67 

47.42 

42.29 

30.20 

12.68 

3.73 

.27 

.03 

3.66 

16.32 

28.49 

63.96 

290.81 

294.63 

Av'ges  _ 

4.436 

3.648 

3.253 

2.323 

.975 

.287 

.021 

.002 

.261 

1.166 

2.035 

4.569 

20.772 



22.664 

24 


SHINGLE  SPRINGS,  EL  DORADO  COUNTY. 

The  following  rainfall  tables  were  compiled  by  Sergeant  Barwick 
from  data  furnished  him  by  Mrs.  J.  Carney,  of  Carson  City,  Nevada. 
The  observations  of  rainfall  were  taken  by  her  father,  Doctor  J.  R. 
Edwards,  an  old  pioneer  citizen  of  Sacramento  County;  1849  and 
1850  were  taken  at  Mormon  Island,  Sacramento  County;  the  remain- 
ing years  the  rainfall  was  taken  about  two  miles  from  Shingle  Springs, 
El  Dorado  County,  and  cover  a  period  of  eighteen  years  for  that  point; 
and  two  years  at  Mormon  Island.  This  gives  El  Dorado  County  a 
good  rainfall  record.  This  table,  from  1850  to  1868,  and  Samuel 
Hale's,  of  Placerville,  from  1874  to  1884,  makes  nearly  .twenty-eight 
years  of  rainfall  records  for  that  county: 


1 

» 

3 

1 

| 

I 

g 

g 

® 

CH 

c 

c 

a 

5 

02 
CD 

I 

g 

•  ! 

I 

H 

| 

I 

|              g 

W 

^ 

£3 

ff 

i 

1 

gg 

q 

\ 

! 

* 

of 

^ 

i 

3 

o 

8,           * 

I 

j 

! 

! 

j 

1 

1 

1849 

.08 
.10 
.30 

5.65 
.65 
2.45 

10.40 

2.70 
7.80 

1849-50 
1850-51 
1851-52 

39.25 
17.26 
32.50 

1850  
1851  

13.70 
4.80 

2.15 

.40 

6.80 
2.10 

.45 

4.80 

.02 
.40 

none 
none 

none 
none 

sprin 
sprin 

1.23 
.40 

27.80 
23.45 

1852  

3.20 

.50 

9.60 

7.25      1.00 

none 

none  |  nc 

me    none 

.50 

7.20 

11.40 

40.65    1852-53 

47.r,7 

1853  

13.70 

2.40 

8.20 

3.00      1.10 

.05 

none    sprin 

1.20 

.75 

6.40 

4.10 

40.90    1853-54 

30.15 

1854  

4.40 

3.40 

4.30 

5.40 

.20 

.30 

none 

m 

me 

none 

3.72 

2.70 

3.50 

27.92 

1854-55 

19.50 

1855  

3.20 

1.10 

2.50 

2.10 

.68 

none 

none 

nc 

me 

.70 

none 

2.40 

5.70 

18.34 

1855-50 

18.60 

1856  

4.10 

.80 

3.40 

1.20 

.20 

.10 

none 

none    none 

none 

2.15 

7.35 

19.30 

1856-57 

20.11 

1857  

6.50 

7.05 

1.94 

none 

.42 

.35 

.35 

nc 

me    ifone 

.42 

4.94 

1.99 

23.96 

1857-58 

19.91 

1858.  

2.37 

2.69 

4.00 

1.70 

.20 

.60 

none 

none 

none 

3.25 

.50 

6.20 

21.51 

1858-59 

31.41 

1859  

1.22 

12.00 

5.81 

1.82 

1.51 

none 

none 

nc 

me 

none 

.15 

11.16 

2.40 

36.07 

1859-60 

28.09 

1860  

2.20 

1.15 

4.71 

3.40 

2.10 

.02 

.80 

none 

none 

1.20 

.50 

7.43 

23.51 

1800-61 

20.25 

1861  

3.78 

4.60 

8.34 

.20 

.15 

.05 

none 

nc 

me 

none 

none 

6.90 

11.22 

35.44 

1861-62 

77.80 

1862  

34.13 

6.75 

6.90 

3.34 

4.10 

1.90 

2.56 

none 

none 

.78 

.37 

2.84 

63.67 

1862-63 

19.27 

1863  

1.45 

4.96 

4.01 

2.76 

2.10 

none    none 

nc 

me 

none 

none 

2.05 

6.30 

23.63 

1863-64 

24.27 

1864  

7.29 

3.21 

.63 

3.94 

.85 

none 

none 

nc 

>n« 

none 

.08 

9.94 

9.13 

35.07 

1864-65 

34.44 

1865  

5.13 

5.63 

1.13 

2.49 

.89 

none 

none 

none 

none 

.45 

6.84 

2.57 

25.13 

1865-60 

30.86 

1866  

11.08 

3.46 

6.21 

1.31 

4.88 

.18 

none 

nc 

me 

none 

none 

4.73 

18.77 

50.62 

1866-07 

50.30 

1867  

9.17 

7.51 

4.09 

6.01 

.02 

none 

none 

sprin 

.82 

2.24 

7.17 

23.76 

60.81 

1867-68 



1868  

12.12 

3.70 

14.39 

Totals  __ 

j 

143.54   73.46  \  99.06 

51.17    20.82      3.55 

3.71 

sprin  !    4.35 

14.02 

84.70  ,145.56  597.78  1                '579.54 

Av'ges  _ 

7.555 

3.866 

5.214 

2.843 

1.166      .197 

.206 

sprin 

.242 

.738 

4.458 

7.661  33.210 

';}•?  195 

25 


PLACERVILLE,  EL  DORADO  COUNTY. 

The  rainfall  record  at  Placerville,  El  Dorado  County,  was  furnished 
Sergeant  Barwick  by  Samuel  Hale,  Superintendent  of  the  El  Dorado 
Water  and  Deep  Gravel  Mining  Company,  and  covers  a  period  of  six 
years,  from  1879  to  1884.  Records  were  also  kept  from  February, 
1874,  to  February,  1877.  The  total  for  each  year  was,  for  eleven 
months  in  1874,  33.23  inches;  1875,44.84  inches;  1876,39.21  inches; 
January  and  February,  1877,  gave  11.05  inches: 


1 

9 
a 

February  _ 

! 

5. 

(? 

IH 

c 

a 
z 

f 

1 

4 

fl> 

\ 

g 

1 

o 

Total  for  Season, 

F 

<T 

1 

1879 

3.47 
.35 
2.80 
5.72 
3.38 
2.47 

5.28 
.58 
2.87 
4.94 
1.67 
.10 

7.53 
16.94 
7.70 
1.98 
2.63 
22.65 

16.28 
54.19 
44.62 
41.58 
32.34 
74.12 

1879-80 
1880-81 
1881-82 
1882-83 
1883-84 

52.60 
48.04 
42.46 
36.56 
57.39 

1880___ 
1881  
1882___ 
1883___ 
1884  

Totals. 

Av'ges 

4.38 
15.53 
6.71 
3.74 
6.06 

5.81 
7.01 
5.15 
2.58 
11.56 

4.66 
3.38 
9.30 
6.88 
14.46 

17.52 
2.36 
5.53 
3.54 
11.82 

3.95 
sprin 
1.19 
6.25 
1.60 

•SB 

.13 
none 
2.51 

none 
spriu 
sprin 
spriu 
sprin 

none     none 
none      1.08 
none        .93 
none  i    1.67 
.03  |      .85 

36.42 

32.11 

38.68 

40.77  '  12.99 

4.53   sprin 

.03 

4.53 

18.19 

15.44 

59.43 

263.13 

237.05 

7.284 

6.422    7.736 

8.154 

2.598 

.906 

sprin      .006      .906 

3.032 

2.573 

9.905 

43.855 

47.410 

GEORGETOWN,  EL  DORADO  COUNTY. 

The  rainfall  at  Georgetown,  El  Dorado  County,  was  furnished  by 
C.  M.  Fitzgerald,  of  the  California  Water  and  Mining  Company,  and 
extends  from  November,  1872,  to  December,  1884.  The  table  shows 
the  monthly  and  annual  rainfall,  also  total  amounts  for  each  season 
from  1872-73  to  1883-81,  with  the  monthly  averages,  and  also  averages 
for  the  year  and  season.  This  makes  El  Dorado  County  the  best 
represented  in  its  rainfall  of  any  county  in  the  State,  viz. :  Shingle 
Springs,  Placerville,  and  Georgetown: 


Kj 

January  _ 

February 

g 

1 

> 
v 

a 

* 

£ 

3 
to 

SH 

c_ 

f 

c" 

f 

Novembei 

| 

i 

1 
a 

Total  for  j 

I 

j 

| 

i 

y 

1 

| 

| 

1 

! 

i 

g 

'2 

1 

4  30 

18  72 

f3  

4.0S    13.05 

3.05 

3.11 

.12 

none 

.03 

none 

none 

.61 

.55 

16.60 

4~1.20 

1872-73 

46.46 

f4 

16.66 

8.03 

13.87  i    5.sd 

1.32        .20 

none 

none 

none 

3.86 

14.60 

1.24 

65.58 

1873-74 

63.64 

15... 

17.87 

.04 

5.07  |      .31 

2.03  1    2.06 

none 

none 

none 

1.90 

24.12 

10.85 

64.25 

1874-75 

47.08 

re__ 

13.09 

9.97 

U.r>4  :    4.78 

1.22 

none 

.77 

none 

none 

11.47 

.80 

none 

56.64 

1875-76 

81.24 

f7__  _ 

12.44 

2.14 

7.78 

1.74 

3.87 

.24 

none 

none 

none 

1.03 

4.30 

1.97 

35.51 

1876-77 

40.48 

f8 

16.21 

22.78 

10.92 

2.99 

.99 

.12 

none 

none 

.66 

2.56 

2.66 

.48 

60.37 

1877-78 

61.31 

r»___ 

11.24 

12.41 

17.57 

9.66 

3.38 

.:>4 

none 

none 

none 

3.85 

6.25 

11.73 

76.43 

1878-79 

60.96 

M)J__ 

5.47 

6.00 

5.50 

25.63 

5.97 

none 

none 

none 

none 

.18 

.37 

22.67 

71.79 

1879-80 

70.40 

a__. 

20.83 

12.85 

3.84 

2.40 

.40 

2.28 

none 

none 

2.02 

4.23 

3.30 

10.32 

62.47 

1880-81 

65.82 

i2.__ 

8.59 

5.88 

10.44 

7.11 

2.06 

.18 

none 

none 

.16 

7.75 

7.00 

3.31 

52.48 

1881-82 

54.13 

«  __ 

4.70 

3.08 

8.73 

3.87 

7.34 

none 

none 

none 

1.60 

4.10 

1.94 

3.50 

38.86 

1882-83 

45.94 

J4  

7.53 

13.80 

19.94 

15.07 

1.52 

3.65 

none 

.01 

.80 

3.54 

.03 

33.73 

99.62 

1883-84 

72.66 

tals 

138.71 

110.03 

121.25 

82.46 

30.23 

9.07 

.80 

01  1     524 

45.08 

70  -?2 

135  12 

725.20 

710:12 

'ges 

11.559 

9.169  10.104 

6.872 

2.519 

.756 

.067 

.0008      .437 

3.757 

5.402 

10.394 

60.433 

59.177 

3t 


26 


GRASS   VALLEY,  NEVADA   COUNTY. 

The  rainfall  that  goes  to  make  up  the  following  table  for  Nevada 
County  was  taken  at  Grass  Valley  by  Mr.  Loutzenheiser,  and  for- 
warded to  Sergeant  Barwick  by  the  Grass  Valley  Daily  Tidings.  It 
covers  a  period  of  eleven  years,  from  1873  to  1884: 


H 

2 

r  !  i 

P 

> 

$ 

s          s 

g 

02 

0 

*       o 

g 

02 

H 

E 

§      f 

3 

9, 

^ 

5 

<<5 

or? 

H 

£ 

CD 

i 

P 

§ 

Hi 

3       i 

$• 

a 

<c 

B 

5 

*l 

y 

"-*» 

I 

<f 

2 

8 

- 

o 

| 

1 

! 

i 

R 

o 

1873  

4.01 

12.50 

1.39 

2.32 

2.56 

none 

none 

none 

none 

.83 

2.99 

19.01 

45.61 

1872-73 

40.00 

1874____ 

13.71 

6.93 

11.71 

3.76 

1.05 

.10 

none 

none 

none 

2.95 

15.91 

1.08 

57.20 

1873-74 

60.09 

1875  

15.56 

1.39 

4.14 

.29 

1.18 

2.28 

none 

none 

none 

.97 

16.99 

7.44 

50.24 

1874-75 

44.78 

1876  

12.01 

10.75 

12.47 

2.80 

1.23 

.65 

none 

none 

.06 

8.72 

.62 

none 

49.31 

1875-76 

65.31 

1877  

10.18 

2.44 

4.79 

1.14 

1.40 

.74 

none 

none 

none 

1.21 

3.78 

1.74 

27.42 

1876-77 

30.09 

1878  

15.74 

17.76 

10.18 

2.78 

.59 

none 

none 

none 

.68 

2.09 

2.54 

.75 

53.11 

1877-78 

53.78 

1879  

10.72 

11.51 

18.07 

7.08 

3.08 

.30 

none 

.08 

none 

2.79 

6.54 

8.86 

69.03 

1878-79 

56.82 

1880  

6.40 

4.83 

4.07 

23.31 

6.23 

.09 

none 

none 

none 

.04 

.30 

22.69 

67.96 

1879-80 

(W.20 

1881  

19.20 

8.50 

3.33 

1.85 

.05 

1.50 

none 

none 

L28 

3.71 

3.52 

8.21 

51.12 

1880-81 

57.46 

1882  

6.03 

6.30 

7.96 

5.27 

1.18 

.50 

none 

none 

1.88 

7.88 

4.78 

2.83 

44.61 

1881-82 

43.93 

1883  

3.05 

2.97 

9.25 

2.38 

5.77 

none 

none 

none 

1.44 

3.03 

1.48 

2.31 

31.68 

1882-83 

40.70 

1884  

7.80 

10.27 

13.98 

10.98 

1.00 

2.30 

none 

none 

.98 

3.30 

.05 

28.39 

79.05 

1883-84 

54.59 

Totals  __ 

124.41 

96.15 

101.34 

63.96 

25.32 

8.46 

none  j      .08 

6.29 

37.52 

59.50  103.31 

626.34;  

610.75 

Av'ges  _ 

10.368 

8.012 

8.445 

5.330 

2.110 

.705 

none 

.007 

.524 

3.127 

4.958 

8.699  .52.195 

1 

50.896 

WEST   BUTTE,    SUTTER   COUNTY. 

The  report  of  rainfall  at  West  Butte,  Sutter  County,  was  furnished 
by  A.  S.  Noyes,  and  covers  a  period  of  five  years  and  two  months, 
from  November,  1879,  to  December,  1884,  inclusive,  and  is  as  follows: 


, 

^ 

^  ;   s 

^ 

g 

;_, 

^ 

> 

02 

O 

j2j 

d 

H            co 

^ 

g 

a 

a 

1   f 

| 

i 

a 

5 

«- 

2 

*s 

s- 

3 

2 

11           3" 

f 

§    '    * 

j 

& 

b 

o" 

p 

^  !     §     ;    ^ 

H 

** 

1 

*!• 

I 

J 

^       a 

1 

. 

f 

i 

I 

i 

I 

f 

p 

1879 

2  38 

2  25 

1879-80 

13.25 

1880  

.62 

.75 

.75 

5.88 

.62 

none 

none 

none 

none 

none 

none 

5.38 

14.00 

1880-81 

12.20 

1881_     _ 

3.69 

1.38 

.75 

1.00 

none 

none 

none 

none 

.31 

1.12 

.38 

2.00 

10.63 

1881-82 

12.26 

1882  

1.88 

2.31 

2.57 

1.19 

.50 

none 

none 

none 

.25 

.88 

2.62 

.25 

12.45 

1882-83 

12.44 

1883  

.75 

.19 

3.06 

.88 

3.56 

none 

none 

none 

.62 

.81 

none 

.19 

10.06 

1883-84 

19.80 

18S4 

3  81 

2  12 

6  50 

3  75 

25 

1  75 

57 

1  00 

4  94 

24  69 

Totals  __ 

10.75      6.75 

13.63    12.70 

4.93 

1.75 

none 

none 

1.75 

3.81 

5.38 

15.01 

71.83 

69.95 

Av'ges  ... 

2.150    1.350 

2.722 

2.540      .986 

.350 

none 

none 

.350 

.762 

.897 

2.502 

14.366 

1IMWO 

27 


MARYSVILLE,   YUBA   COUNTY. 

The  rainfall  from  Marysville  only  covers  a  period  of  two  years,  and 
was  furnished  the  Signal  Service  Observer  at  Sacramento  by  J.  S. 
Dallam,  Special  River  Observer  for  the  United  States  Signal  Service 
at  that  point: 


H     I    £ 

^ 

B 

> 

g 

CH 

GH 

> 

02 

3 

y 

H 

cc 

H 

55       i     5 

3 

* 

o 

vj 

"1 

i 

| 

% 

Sf 

|    1 

* 

Of 

1 

1 

i 

J 

| 

c1 

p 

o 

5* 

i 

| 

i 

H 

1 

1882 

•99 

2  42 

i'2  84 

1  31 

1882-83 

90  12 

1883.  1.64 

.61 

3.72 

.98 

5.61 

none 

none 

none 

.53 

1.29 

.94 

.54 

15.86 

1883-84 

23.47 

1884            3.93 

384 

6  04 

4  14 

.16 

'2  0(5 

none 

none 

48 

232 

03 

7  64 

30j64 

Totals—i    5.57      4.45  !    9.72  !    5.12  i    5.77  i    2.06  ;  none  i  none  :    2.00  i    6.03  I.    3.81 


i      1 

1 

1 

i       1 

COLUSA,   COLUSA   COUNTY. 

The  rainfall,  etc.,  from  Colusa,  Colusa  County,  was  furnished  by 
J.  D.  McNary,  Special  River  Observer  at  that  point.  The  table  below 
gives  the  rainfall  by  seasons  from  1872-73  to  1883-84,  and  by  months 
only  from  1881  to  1884: 


$ 

February,  
January  __ 

- 

1 

o 

f 

crq 

5o 

September  

October  _  _ 

November  

1 

Total  for  Year  __ 

For  Season  of  ___ 

Total  for  Season. 

1872 

1873 

1872-73 

33  46 

1874  ___ 

1873-74 

11  28 

1875  __ 

1874-75 

19  02 

1876__ 

_     __ 

1875-76 

19  79 

1877_ 

1876-77 

9  20 

1878  _ 

1877-78 

33.34 

1879 

1878-79 

13.98 

1880 

: 

1879-80 

19  21 

1881  
1882  
1883  
1884  

3.70  ,    2.27 
1.51      2.56 
1.07        .37 
4.82  ;    -2.30 

.60 
2.50 
2.36 
5.70 

1.42 
1.27 
.79 
2.97 

.34 
.04 
2.23 
.12 

none 
.65 
none 

2.88 

none 
none 
none 
none 

none 
none 
none 
none 

1.19 

.23 

.68 
.59 

none 
1.19 

.68 
1.06 

.43 
1.73 
.11 
none 

2.51 
.69 
.10 
5.30 

12.46 
12.37 
9.39 
25.74 

1880-81 
1881-82 
1882-83 
1883-84 

16.96 
22.62 
11.66 
29.75 

Totals 

11.10      7.50 

11.16 

6.45 

3.73 

3.53 

none 

2  69 

2  98 

2  27 

8  60 

59  96 

239  47 

Av'ges 

2.775    1.875 

2.790 

1.613 

.933 

.883 

none 

none 

672 

732 

568 

215 

14  990 

19  956 

28 


PRINCETON,    COLUSA   COUNTY. 

The  record  of  rainfall  at  Princeton,  Colusa  County,  was  furnished 
by  David  Bentley,  volunteer  observer  of  the  Signal  Service,  United 
States  Army,  and  covers  a  period  of  ten  years,  from  1875  to  1884, 
inclusive,  as  follows: 


H 

1* 

tt 

g 

£J 

> 

g 

ft 

CH 
£ 

£ 

I 

<? 

o 

tt 

H 

f 

g 

1 

C 

1 

c* 
1 

i 

f 

g' 

1 

r 

1 

2 

a 

1 

o5 

c 

E 

1 

! 

! 

i 

A 

P 

1 

! 

i 

i 

•t 

c 

1875  

4.30 

.15 

.30 

none 

.05 

1.75 

none 

none 

none 

.75 

1.95 

1.85 

11.10 

1875-76 

17.18 

1876  

2.53 

4.40 

3.50 

1.05 

.15 

.05 

.90 

.05 

.15 

4.60 

.40 

none 

12.80 

1876-77 

10.20 

1877  

1.65 

1.75 

.85 

none 

.20 

.30 

.30 

none 

none 

.98 

1.63 

1.48 

9.14 

1877-78 

27.12 

1878  

10.43 

7.  64 

2.28 

1.01 

.65 

none 

none 

1.02 

.20 

.50 

.96 

.13 

24.82 

1878-79 

10.73 

1879  

1.83 

1.71 

2.44 

1.61 

1.10 

.12 

none 

.13 

none 

.07 

1.91 

2.81 

13.73 

1879-80 

13.27 

1880  

.95 

.90 

.95 

4.93 

.75 

none 

none 

none 

none 

none 

.10 

6.85 

15.43 

1880-81 

15.54 

1881  

4.30 

1.78 

.83 

1.15 

.10 

.43 

none 

none 

.60 

.60 

.22 

2.51 

12.52 

1881-82 

11.09 

1882     __ 

1.21 

2.54 

1.53 

1.08 

.28 

.52 

none 

none 

.18 

1.71 

2.42 

.62 

12.09 

1882-83 

12.05 

1883  

.65        .23 

2.o.  > 

1.07  :    2.82    none 

none    none 

.58  1      .64 

.10 

.14 

8.58 

18S3-.S4 

17.78 

1884  

4.03 

2  35 

5.06 

2.71 

.05 

2.12 

none  \  none 

1.13      1.10 

none 

6.03 

24.58 

Totals 

1.20  \     1-90 

31.88 

93  4-5 

20.09 

14.61 

6.15 

5.29 

2.84 

10.95 

9.69 

22.42 

149.79 

134.96 

Av'ges  _ 

.120 

3.188  '  2.345    2.009 

1.461 

.615 

.529 

.120 

.284 

1.095 

.969 

2.242 

14.979 



14.996 

RED  BLUFF,  TEHAMA  COUNTY. 

This  table  is  made  up  from  the  Signal  Service  records,  and  shows 
the  total  rainfall  for  each  calendar  year  from  1878  to  December  31, 
1884,  and  the  rainfall  by  seasons  from  1877-78  to  1883-84;  also,  the 
rainfall  for  each  month,  and  the  totals  for  each  month,  along  with 
the  averages  from  the  opening  of  the  Signal  Office  on  July  1,  1877,  to 
date: 


Kj 

t, 

*j 

g 

> 

S          ^ 

e_, 

> 

? 

0 

^ 

M 

g 

0! 

\ 

o 

1 

1 

3. 

*  !  F 

5 

1 

! 

i 

1 

1 

1 

q 

q 

i 

* 

i" 

1 

| 

o1 

0 

j 

[ 

i 

*< 

187 
187 
187 

1 

.05 
none 
.04 

.03 
none 

.28 

none 
.42 
sprin 

1.35 
1.56 

.48 

3.13 
1.66 
6.05 

3.98 
.69 
9.95 

*8.54 
48.96 
33.64 

8  
9 

20.71 
3.18 

16.66 
3.67 

4.16 
5.39 

2.21 
2.12 

.89 
2.18 

none 
.30 

1877-78 
1878-79 

53.09 
21.49 

1880  

2.01 

1,66 

1.70 

7.05 

1.04 

none 

none 

none 

none 

.08 

.14 

12.85 

26.53 

1879-80 

29.94 

188 

1  _. 

9.40 

2.79 

.51 

1.83 

.79 

.51 

spnu 

none 

1.07 

1.61 

.73 

5.69 

24.93 

1880-81 

28.90 

1882  

2.81 

3.94 

2.67 

2.12 

.33 

.15 

none 

none 

.49 

2.80 

5.07 

1.44 

21.82 

1881-82 

21.12 

1883  
1884  

.87 
3.55 

.39 
2.21 

2.60 
7.81 

1.96 
4.31 

2.96 
.18 

none 
.97 

none 
none 

none 
none 

1.04 
.36 

2.68 
.90 

.74 
.04 

.52 

7.75 

13.76 

28.08 

1882-83 
1883-84 

18.58 
24.01 

Totals 

42  53 

31  32 

24  84 

21  60 

8  37 

1  93 

09 

31 

3  38 

11  46 

17  56 

42  87 

206  26 

197.13 

Av'ges  _ 

6.076 

4.474 

3.549 

3.086 

1.196 

.276 

.011 

.044 

.422 

1.433 

2.195 

5.365  25.282 

28.161 

*  Total  for  six  months. 


29 


REED'S  RAILROAD  CAMP,  UPPER  SACRAMENTO  RIVER. 

The  following  interesting  rain  data  from  Reed's  Camp,  on  the 
Upper  Sacramento  River,  shows  that  heavy  annual  rainfalls  are  a 
very  usual  occurrence  at  that  point,  according  to  the  observations 
made  by  L.  Aultenreith,  and  by  him  furnished  to  Sergeant  Barwick. 
The  table  extends  from  January,  1880,  to  December,  1884,  and  shows 
the  averages  by  months,  years,  and  seasons.  From  1882  to  1884,  the 
record  was  kept  at  Dog  Creek,  near  Reed's  Camp: 


CH 

4 

r 

i 

j. 

,. 

>• 

02 

0 

^ 

M 

H 

02 

HI 

I 

anuary__. 

I 

P 

*B 

a 

| 

d 

c 

£ 

1 

*c! 

5 

3 

1 

c 

ecember  . 

f 

B 

I 

! 

| 

! 

§ 

1880 

x  r,n 

3  34 

8  32 

19  •"'(i 

'.V  07 

71  59 

1881         :  I'.l  .76 

14.14 

8.04 

5.99  i       .80 

2.66 

none 

none 

2.17 

7.16 

5.65 

8.00 

86.37 

1880-81 

95.46 

1882  

5.07 

15.37 

13.01 

4.11 

5.28    none 

.08 

none 

.10 

9.20 

8.14 

394 

64.30 

1881-82 

65.90 

1883  _ 

1.00 

none 

14.46 

,s  4'.l 

9.94    none    none 

none 

none 

(J  18 

1.10      424 

45.41 

1882-83 

55.27 

1884____  15.57      4.55 

13.44 

16.55 

2.73  !    7.12 

25 

none 

1.03 

7.99 

2.32    19.70 

91.25 

1883-84 

71.73 

Totals       62.00 

37.40 

57.27 

54.40    IS.  7.-) 

9.78  !      .33 

none  !    3.30 

30.5I3 

17.21    67.95  358.92 

288.36 

Av'ges 

12.40(1 

7.480 

11.454 

10.880 

3.750 

1.956 

.068 

none 

.660 

6.106 

3.442 

13.590 

71.784 

72.090 

YREKA,   SISKIYOU   COUNTY. 

The  rainfall  table  for  Yreka  extends  from  April,  1872,  to  Decem- 
ber, 1884,  and  was  furnished  Sergeant  Barwick  by  Mr.  L.  Aultenreith, 
of  Yreka.  The  record  is  from  the  rain  gauge  of  the  C.  P.  R.  R.  Co. 
The  record  shows  the  monthly  annual  and  seasonal  rainfalls,  the 
averages  for  each  month  during  a  period  of  twelve  and  thirteen  years; 
also,  the  average  for  twelve  seasons: 


t 

1 

1 

| 

I 

P 

3 

«H 

c 

c 

ftO 

1 

f 

$ 

1 

S" 

1 

H 

"* 

e 
2 

2 

• 

gf 

5 

1 

S- 

$ 

B 

1 

3 

3 

1 

t 

B 

£ 

5 

\ 

1 

1 

* 

O 

1 

! 

| 

f 

B 

1872 

.24 

.44 

none 

.14 

none 

.25 

1.65 

1.43 

3.72 

1873  

jf.28 

1.77 

.40 

.90 

.60 

none 

none 

none 

.44 

.55 

1.17 

2.20 

9.31 

1872-73 

11.90 

1874  

3.78 

1.62 

1.49 

.74 

.34 

.44 

none 

none 

none 

1.29 

2.16 

none 

11.86 

1873-74 

12.77 

1875.  

4.35 

.19 

1.23 

.17 

.51 

.30 

.07 

none 

none 

3.34 

5.29 

6.07 

21.52 

1874-75 

10.27 

1876  

2.00 

1.93 

2.07 

.42 

.65 

.20 

.32 

.19 

.90 

3.05 

.43 

.2(> 

12.42 

1*75-76 

22  48 

1877  

1.20 

3.24 

1.48 

.74 

1.56 

.65 

.18 

none 

none 

.20 

3.64 

.95 

13.84 

1876-77 

13.69 

1878  

612 

3.91 

2.80 

.37 

.56 

none 

.35 

.40 

.45 

.25 

1.15 

.45 

16.81 

1877-78 

19.30 

1879  

1.53 

1.41 

3.96 

1.56 

1.42 

.39 

.22 

15 

none 

.77 

2.32 

7.23 

20.96 

1878-79 

12.94 

1880  

2.43 

.61 

1.20 

2.23 

.41 

none 

.15 

none 

none 

.13 

.10 

2.42 

9.68 

1879-80 

17.35 

1881  

11.78 

2.58 

.19 

.48 

none 

1.65 

.59 

.26 

.30 

3.24 

.68 

1.60 

23.35 

1880-81 

20.18 

1882  

1.81 

1.96 

.42 

1.20 

1.02 

none 

none 

none 

.90 

1.88 

1.89 

2.09 

13.17 

1881-82 

12.23 

1883  

1.38 

.47 

.53 

1.26 

1.76 

none 

.33 

.25 

.33 

1.35 

.66 

2.95 

11.27 

1882-83 

12.74 

1884  

210 

1.20 

2.44 

1.41 

1.40 

1.78 

1.33 

.51 

.33 

none 

.79 

6.19 

29.48 

1883-84 

17.46 

Totals  __ 

39.76 

20.89 

18.21 

11.72 

10.67 

5.41 

3.68 

1.76 

3.90 

17.60 

21.71 

36.13 

183.67 

183.31 

Av'ges 

3.313 

1.741 

1.518 

.901 

.821 

.416 

.283 

.135 

.300 

1.354 

1.670 

2.779 

15.306 

15.276 

SCOTT   VALLEY,   SISKIYOU   COUNTY. 

The  rainfall  for  Scott  Valley,  Siskiyou  County,  was  tabulated  from 
data  furnished  by  Mr.  C.  H.  Pyle,  Yreka;  the  observations  having 
been  taken  by  Mr.  Isaac  Letcomb,  of  Scott  Valley.  This  table  is  val- 


30 


uable  for  the  length  of  time  it  extends  back.    The  observations  began 
in  August,  1859,  and  run  to  December,  1884,  without  a  break  or  any 


missing  data  thereirom 

£ 

«H 

S 

?         £ 

g 

9 

%        EL 

X 

fo 
a 

o 

%           '           r-K 

1 

1 

I? 

5 
2. 

I 

1-      r 

'-*$ 

<J>                *"* 

1 

!  !  1 

B         B         "          P 

£ 

i 

1            1 

1 

*i 

1 

2 

c             c 

£     ; 

e5 

1859 

.50 
.24 
none 

.87 
.49 
none 

1.00 

2.22 
.51 

4.33 
2.00 
11.56 

.75 
5.74 
10.63 

1859-60 
1860-61 
1861-62 

20.28 

20.65 
40.96 

1860  
1861  

2.59 
1.12 

1.25 
2.50 

4.12 

2.50 

.75 
3.00 

2.00 
.54 

,50 

.30 

1.62 
none 

23.52 
32.66 

1862  

9.29 

3.75 

1.32 

2.00 

1.00 

.80 

.10 

none 

.02 

.15 

.12 

1.90 

20.45 

1862-63 

15.72 

1863  

4.75 

1.75 

2.45 

2.00 

.40 

1.93 

.25 

.09 

.40 

.25 

1.85 

6.17 

22.29  i  1863-64 

1560 

1864  

2.07 

.43 

.82 

2.70 

.51 

.31 

none 

.63 

.04 

.31 

6.00 

12.75 

26.57 

1864-65 

26.77 

1865  

1.87 

2.40 

1.30 

.32 

.05 

.75 

.35 

.02 

1.15 

1.33 

9.79 

1.21 

20.54 

1865-06 

35.65 

1866  

6.59 

3.50 

9.20 

.02 

1.72 

.62 

.50 

.47 

none 

.08 

2.51 

11.75 

36.96 

1866-67 

28.38 

1867  

9.12 

2.02 

.64 

1.34 

.44 

.01 

none 

.26 

.40 

.88 

1.75      9.68 

26.54 

1867-68 

23.61 

1868  

3.06 

1.50 

3.70 

1.14 

.18 

1.06 

none 

none 

.06 

.50 

.77  i    2.80 

14.77 

1868-69 

18.29 

1869  

5.76 

1.13 

1.32 

3.61 

1.52 

.69 

.13 

none 

1.00        .01 

3.04      3.56 

21.77    1869-70 

19.87 

1870  

5.00 

2.91 

1.73 

1.37 

1.12 

.13 

none 

none 

.01        .02 

1.00  '    3.50 

16.79  !  1870-71 

13.91 

1871  

1.86 

2.47 

1.62 

2.27 

.55 

.26 

.35 

none 

.37        .05 

1.62 

7.68 

19.10    1871-72 

22.87 

1872  

4.18 

6.94 

1.40 

.34 

.25 

.03 

.01 

.01 

.41        .16 

2.67 

3.38 

19.78    1872-73 

13.84 

1873  

1.33 

3.00 

1.05 

1.50 

.27 

.03 

.03 

.05 

.37 

.94 

1.71 

4.49 

14.77 

1873-74 

21.79 

1874_  

6.38 

1.80 

3.65 

1.55 

.71 

.13 

.01 

.09 

none 

1.55 

4.33 

.43 

20.63 

1874-75 

13.09 

1875  

3.13 

.17 

1.79 

.35 

.75 

.12 

.38 

.05 

none 

4.45 

7.31 

7.33 

25.83 

1875-76 

31.09 

1876—  _ 

2.26 

333 

3.94 

.71 

119 

.18 

.34 

1.00 

1.02 

3.75 

.54 

.01 

18.27 

1876-77 

18.90 

1877— 

1.71 

423 

3.10 

1.23 

1.48 

.71 

.12 

.02 

.01 

.45 

.67 

1.62 

15.35 

1877-78 

23.36 

1878___. 

9.72 

6.53 

3.74 

SKI 

.20 

.12 

.01 

.06 

.36 

2.81 

2.16 

1.141  27.12 

1878-79 

26.42 

1879_  

3.25 

3.54 

8.39 

2.66 

1.40 

.27 

.38 

.47 

.11 

.81 

4.64 

4.58 

30.50 

1879-80 

33.30 

1880  

10.62 

2.32 

2.65 

5.39 

1.32 

.02 

.37 

.07 

none 

.18 

.32 

6.76 

30.02 

1880-81 

31.50 

1881  

13.95 

6.53 

.79 

1.19 

.17 

1.04 

..54        .04 

.76 

3.53 

2.40 

4.60 

35*54 

1881-82 

3003 

1882  

4.48 

5.69 

2.22 

2.45 

1.29 

.08 

2.49 

none 

1.44 

2.86 

2.72 

3.75 

2947 

1882-83 

22.27 

1883  

2.58 

1.51 

1.11 

3.25 

2.65 

none 

.40 

.63 

.66 

2.41 

1.11 

4.75 

21.06 

1883-84 

27.63 

1884  

4.28 

3.14 

3.45 

306 

1.65 

.87  j    1.62        .01 

.60 

1.04 

.16      8.18 

28.06 

Totals  __ 

1 

1 

120.95   74.34 

68.00 

44.47 

23.36 

10.96  I  10.00 

4.71 

10.55 

32.25 

77.08  J129.14 

598.36 

695.84 

Av'ges  J  4.838 

2.974 

2.720 

1.77!) 

.934 

.438 

.400 

.181 

.406 

1.240 

2.965 

4.967  [23.914 

23.834 

The  following  table  shows  the  rainfall  by  seasons — that  is,  the 
months  that  are  considered  the  rainy  ones — beginning  with  Septem- 
ber of  one  year  and  ending  with  August  the  next  year,  and  makes  a 
brief  summary  of  the  rainfall  at  twenty-two  .different  points  in  this 
State,  extending  from  San  Diego  to  Siskiyou,  and  from  San  Fran- 
cisco to  Georgetown.  The  table  begins  with  the  Scott  Valley  Station, 
Siskiyou  County,  the  records  extending  from  the  season  of  1859-60 
to  that  of  1883-4;  Yreka,  Siskiyou  County,  from  1872-3  to  1883-4; 
Weaverville,  Trinity  County,  from  1871-2  to  1883-4;  Reed's  Camp 
and  Dog  Creek,  on  the  upper  Sacramento  River,  from  1880-81  to 
1883-4;  Red  Bluff,  Tehama  County,  from  1877-8  to  1883-4;  Prince- 
ton, Colusa  County,  from  1875-6  to  1883-4;  Colusa,  Colusa  County, 
from  1872-3  to  1883-4;  West  Butte,  Sutter  County,  from  1879-80  to 
1883-4;  Marysville,  Yuba  County,  from  1882-3  to  1883-4;  Grass  Val- 
ley, Nevada  County,  from  1872-3  to  1883-4;  Georgetown,  El  Dorado 
County,  from  1872L3  to  1883-4;  Placerville,  El  Dorado  County,  for 
1874-5,  1875-6,  and  from  1879-80  to  1883-4;  Shingle  Springs,  El  Do- 
rado County,  from  1849-50  to  1866-7 ;  Folsom  City,  Sacramento  County, 
from  1871-2  to  1883-4;  Sacramento,  Sacramento  County,  from  1849-50 
to  1883-4;  Oakland,  Alameda  County,  from  1873-4  to  1883-4;  San 
Francisco,  San  Francisco  County,  from  1849-50  to  1883-4;  Salinas, 
Monterey  County,  from  1872-3  to  1883-4;  Visalia,  Tulare  County, 
from  1877-8  to  1882-3;  Los  Angeles,  Los  Angeles  County,  from 
1877-8  to  1883-4;  San  Diego,  San  Diego  County,  from  1871-2  to 
1883-4;  Poway,  San  Diego  County,  from  1879-80  to  1883-4: 


31 


Poway 


San  Diego 


j  Los  Angeles 

i  Visalia  __. 


Salinas 


Saji  Francisco  ___ 


Oakland. 


Sacramento  _____ 


333 

SS§3 


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r-li-H         (Mr-ICqi-H^I         cqi-HC-ItM'-lrHCN 


Folsom  City  ____ 


I  Shingle  Springs. 


Placerville___ 


Georgetown  ---- 


i  Grass  Valley 


Marysville 


West  Bntte  _____ 


Colusa  __, 


Princeton    ____ 


Red  Bluff___ 


Reed's  Camp  ____ 


Weaverville  ____ 


Yreka. 


Scott  Valley  ____ 


E  'r    7 

S§^ 


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>  t-  op  c>  p  r<  P»  PS 


32 


THE  WEATHER. 


DR.  J.  B.  TREMBLEY  ON  THE  METEOROLOGY  OF  OAKLAND. 


Careful  observations  taken  daily  during  the  past  year — Relative  humidity — 
Barometrical  pressure — Monthly  meteorological  synopsis — Synopsis  of 
Oakland  climate  for  nine  years  past — Table  of  comparative  annual 
meteorology. 


The  following  summary  of  the  weather  for  1884  was  furnished 
Sergeant  Barwick  by  Dr.  Trembley,  of  Oakland : 

Observations  taken  at  7  A.  M.,  2  p.  M.,  and  9  P.  M.  of  each  day,  by 
J.  B.  Trembley,  M.  D.;  latitude,  37°  48'  20"  north;  longitude,  122°  15' 
20"  west;  height  of  barometer  above  the  sea,  24  feet. 

BAROMETRICAL   PRESSURE. 

Table  showing  the  mean,  highest,  and  lowest  monthly  barometer  ;  also,  the  monthly  range.     Barom- 
eter not  corrected  for  elevation  or  temperature. 


1884. 

Mean  Monthly 
Barometer. 

Highest  Observed 
Barometer  for 
the  Month. 

Lowest  Observed 
Barometer  for 
the  Month. 

Kange  for  the 
Month. 

January 

30.05 

30.45 

29.55 

.90 

February 

30.00 

30.36 

29.36 

1.00 

March.           

29.88 

30.20 

29.50 

.70 

April 

29.96 

30.18 

29.52 

.66 

May 

29.93 

30.05 

29.78 

.27 

r*rJ  - 

June                                     

29.92 

30.10 

29.70 

.40 

July  

29.88 

30.04 

29.82 

.22 

August 

29.88 

30.05 

29.79 

.26 

September 

29.96 

30.05 

29.70 

.38 

October              

29.93 

30.10 

29.72 

.38 

November  

29.99 

30.10 

29.72 

.33 

December 

29.98 

30.13 

29.47 

.66 

Means  

29.94 

30.15 

29.63 

.51.33 

BAROMETRICAL    RECAPITULATION. 

Mean  barometer  for  the  year 29.94 

Maximum  barometer  for  the  year,  January  1,  9  A.  M 30.45 

Minimum  barometer  for  the  year,  February  20,  2  p.  M. . 29.36 

Highest  monthly  range  for  the  year 1.00 

Lowest  monthly  range  for  the  year -22 

Yearly  range .88 


33 


TEMPERATUEE. 

Table  showing  the  mean  temperature  of  the  months,  warmest  and  coldest  days;  also,  maximum  and 
minimum  temperature,  the  greatest  and  Least  daily  variations,  monthly  and  mean  daily  range. 


1884. 

Mean  Temperature 
of  the  Month  

Mean  Temperature 
of  Warmest  Days. 

Mean  Temperature 
of  Coldest  Days___ 

Maximum  Temper- 
ature   

Minimum  Temper- 

Q 

II 

$ 
<« 

i 

£g 
ol 

g 

£T 

1 

Monthly  Range  of 
Temperature  

Mean  Daily  Range 
of  Temperature  

January  _ 

47.04 

53.33 

41.66 

60.00 

31.00 

26.00 

2.00 

29.00 

11.64 

February 

48.33 

57.66 

36.00 

73.00 

28.00 

26.00 

1.00 

45.00 

12  65 

March 

53.17 

59.66 

45.33 

67.00 

38.00 

23.00 

1.00 

29.00 

10.77 

April  

54.27 

59.66 

47.33 

70.00 

43.00 

20.00 

1.00 

27.00 

11.30 

May 

59.33 

64.66 

56.00 

81.00 

48.00 

29.00 

5.00 

33.00 

11.90 

r    ^    - 
June  

60.80 

63.33 

57.66 

73.00 

54.00 

17.00 

4.00 

19.00 

7.50 

July  

63.40 

72.66 

59.33 

88.00 

55.00 

27.00 

4.00 

33.00 

13.74 

August 

61.47 

66.00 

59.00 

78.00 

54.00 

20.00 

5.00 

24.00 

11.22 

September  

59.40 

65.33 

56.66 

76.00 

47.00 

26.00 

6.00 

29.00 

12.76 

October  
November  _ 

56.42 
55.41 

62.64 
60.33 

52.66 
51.00 

75.00 
70.00 

41.00 
42.00 

28.00 
30.00 

3.00 
5.00 

34.00 
25.00 

13.00 
13.16 

Decem  ber  

51.25 

59.00 

41.33 

63.00 

30.00 

21.00 

1.00 

33.00 

9.64 

Means  

55.85 

62.09 

50.31 

72.83 

42.58 

24.41 

4.33 

30.00 

11.64 

RECAPITULATION    OF   TEMPERATURE. 

Mean  temperature  of  the  year 55.85 

Mean  temperature  of  the  warmest  day,  July  10th 72.66 

Mean  temperature  of  the  coldest  day,  February  llth 36.00 

Maximum  temperature  for  the  year,  July  10th,  2  p.  M. 88.00 

Minimum  temperature  for  the  year,  February  12th,  7.  A.  M 28.00 

Greatest  daily  variation,  November  4th 30.00 

Least  daily  variation,  March  9th 1.00 

Greatest  monthly  range,  February 45.00 

Least  monthly  range,  June 10.00 

Average  daily  range  for  the  year 11.64 

Average  monthly  range  for  the  year 30.00 

Yearly  range  of  temperature 60.00 


Mean  temperature  of  Winter 47.38 

Mean  temperature  of  Spring 55.59 

Mean  temperature  of  Summer 61.89 

Mean  temperature  of  Autumn 57.07 

Difference  between  the  coldest  and  warmest  of  Spring  months . 6.16 

Difference  between  the  coldest  and  warmest  of  Summer  months 2.60 

Difference  between  the  coldest  and  warmest  of  Autumn  months 3.99 

Difference  between  the  coldest  and  warmest  of  Winter  months 1.56 

Difference  between  the  coldest  and  warmest  months  of  the  year 16.63 


34 


RELATIVE  HUMIDITY. 

Table  shoioi-ng  the  relative  humidity,  precipitation,  weather,  and  direction  from  which  the  wind 
blew,  from  January  I,  1884,  to  December  31,  1884,  inclusive. 


|! 

1 

«Z 

te! 
p 

i 

E« 

l! 

£ 

is 

9 

bt 

Wind— 
1,098  Observations. 

1884. 

*l 

5' 

H 

i 
pi 

<-<- 

«t 

o£ 

Is 

3 

02 

* 

bj 

g 

g 

j 

h-  1 

I 

i| 

tt 
« 

•a. 

U 

§ 

"8 

ft- 

^ 

Et 

fr 

1 

w 

c 

! 

1 

1 

| 

1 

1 

5 

w          ?° 

i 

1 

January 

83.82 

3.81 

18 

13 

9 

6 

o 

12 

12 

17 

17 

13 

34 

February 

84.5 

5.25 

19 

10 

10 

2 

2 

8 

17 

10 

21 

29 

March            

83.89 

8.59 

20 

11 

16 

] 

1 

3 

36 

12 

IS 

23 

April  

83.84 

5.79 

21 

9 

10 

0 

3 

0 

31 

15 

0 

19 

25 

May 

82.56 

.55 

24 

7 

5 

0 

5 

0 

47 

10 

2 

g 

96 

"*»j    - 

June 

88.42 

3.03 

16 

14 

10 

0 

10 

0 

43 

4 

1 

11 

31 

July  

85.24 

.00 

26 

5 

2 

14 

0 

52 

4 

0 

10 

27 

August  

87.23  1        .25 

25 

6 

1 

1        21 

0 

46 

14 

0 

12 

21 

September  

86.09 

.35 

25 

5 

2 

2 

10 

0 

38 

10 

2 

14 

26 

October    

86.93 

2.80 

23 

8 

4 

5 

5 

0 

20 

13 

3 

6 

51 

November  

90.60 

.05 

26 

4 

3 

1 

5 

5 

20 

7 

3 

8 

52 

December 

81.17 

7.73 

17 

14 

13 

1 

1 

10 

20 

12 

9 

22 

30 

Means  &  sums. 

85 

375 

35.39 

38.20 

260 

106 

19 

77 

38 

382 

128 

62 

151 

RECAPITULATION    OF    RELATIVE   HUMIDITY    FOR   THE  YEAR  1884. 

Mean  relative  humidity  for  the  year 85.39 

Highest  relative  humidity  during  the  year 100.00 

Lowest  relative  humidity  during  the  year,  December  8th,  2  p.  M 38.1 

Greatest  variation  of  hunlidity  in  twenty-four  hours,  September  27th 41.00 

Least  variation  of  humidity  in  twenty-four  hours,  December  23d   .3 

Eainfall  in  inches  during  the  calendar  year 38.20 

Rainfall  in  inches  during  the  agricultural  year — 1883-84 31.10 

Rainfall  in  inches  since  July  1,  1884  (Bay  Nursery) 11.18 

Number  of  clear  and  fair  days ." 260 

Number  of  cloudy  days 106 

Number  of  days  in  which  rain  fell  85 

Number  of  foggy  mornings 19 

Number  of  mornings  overcast 77 

Number  of  mornings  that  frost  was  seen 38 

Wind,  direction  from  southwest  and  west 382 

Wind,  direction  from  northwest  and  north 128 

Wind,  direction  from  northeast  and  east 62 

Wind,  direction  from  southeast  and  south 151 

Calms 375 

The  following  will  more  particularly  illustrate  the  climate  of  Oak- 
land for  the  nine  past  years,  as  it  regards  the  equability  of  seasons 
and  the  difference  between  the  warmest  and  coldest: 


Years. 

Spring. 

Summer. 

Autumn. 

Winter. 

Difference. 

1876                                          .                

54.46 

60.40 

57.75 

48.20 

12.20 

1877 

55.18 

61.17 

57.67 

50.39 

10.78 

1878 

55.73 

59.36 

56.92 

59.12 

9.24 

1879                                                            

56.16 

60.07 

56.73 

49.57 

10.50 

1880  -     —  -     . 

52.97 

58.95 

55.86 

45.38 

13.57 

1881 

56.35 

60.27 

54.78 

51.10 

9.17 

1882                                          .                 

54.12 

60.06 

56.44 

46.80 

13.26 

1883 

54.63 

61.16 

54.25 

46.20 

19.26 

1884 

55.59 

61.89 

57.07 

47.38 

14.51 

Means 

55.02 

60.67 

56.38 

48.35 

12.37 

Difference  between  the  warmest  and  coldest  means  of  the  seasons  for  nine  years,  is  12.37. 


35 


MONTHLY  METEOROLOGICAL   SYNOPSIS  FOR  THE  YEAR  1884. 

January — Was  a  wintry  month  for  this  climate;  chilly,  cold,  frosty 
mornings,  with  frequent  storms  of  rain  and  hard  showers.  The  usual 
phenomena  attending  changeable  weather  were  very  marked  and 
extremes  reached .  The  casual  phenomena,  more  particularly  marked , 
was  the  appearance  of  the  "Pon's  Comet,"  which  had  been  so  long 
looked  for,  was  plainly  seen  on  the  evening  of  the  fourteenth,  in  the 
southwestern  horizon,  at  an  altitude  of  about  forty  degrees.  Astron- 
omical science  had  predicted  the  return  of  this  comet  in  January, 
1884,  after  an  absence  of  a  little  more  than  threescore  years  and  ten. 
It  making  its  appearance  as  predicted  was  surely  a  triumph  of  science, 
and  a  great  gratification  to  its  votaries.  As  seen  in  Oakland,  it  ap- 
peared to  the  eye  like  a  star  of  the  second  magnitude,  indefinitely 
luminous.  The  tail  looked  several  degrees  in  length,  pointing  towards 
the  zenith,  wider  than  the  nucleus,  seemingly  made  up  of  parallel 
rays,  the  center  rays  the  longest,  terminating  in  a  sharp  feathery 
point.  Luminous  sun-risings  and  sun-settings  were  quite  frequent, 
and  a  number  of  them  were  gorgeous  to  behold.  They  were  more 
brilliant  after  the  cold  frosty  weather  began  to  abate,  and  the 
barometer  was  marking  very  high  in  its  readings;  especially  when 
the  atmosphere  was  warming  up  a  few  days  previous  to  the  heavy 
rains  that  occurred  from  the  twenty-fifth  to  the  end  of  the  month. 

February — Like  the  preceding  month,  was  decidedly  wintry.  On 
the  seventh  a  light  fall  of  sleet  and  snow  fell  at  3  o'clock  A.  M., 
which  covered  the  foothills  white  with  snow,  and  a  few  following 
days  and  nights  were  the  coldest  of  Winter;  mud  froze  in  the  streets 
sufficiently  strong  to  hold  up  buggies  and  their  occupants  as  they 
rode  over  this  very  unusual  condition  of  the  streets;  water-pipes  in 
some  localities  froze  and  bursted.  On  the  twelfth  and  thirteenth  in 
shady  places  it  froze  all  day;  ice  formed  in  shallow  pools  of  water 
one  inch  in  thickness;  a  gale  of  wind  prevailed  from  the  northeast, 
filling  the  air  with  dust,  sand,  and'  a  disagreeable  chilliness  piercing 
and  biting  to  those  who  were  compelled  to  be  out  of  doors.  Rain 
began  on  the  fourteenth,  which  modified  the  temperature  of  the 
atmosphere,  and  on  the  fifteenth  the  rain  fell  in  very  hard  showers, 
with  a  barometer  reading  of  29.36.  Luminous  sunsets  were  seen  a 
number  of  times  during  the  extreme  cold  weather,  and  preceding  the 
high  winds  and  storms. 

March — Very  rainy  all  the  month;  showers  or  light  rain  nearly 
every  day.  On  the  twenty-fifth  very  hard  showers  early  A.  M.,  showery 
all  day;  at  4:45  o'clock  p.  M.,  quite  a  severe  earthquake  occurred, 
vibration  from  northeast  to  southwest;  buildings  trembled,  win- 
dows and  crockery  rattled  in  some  localities.  At  9:25  o'clock  p.  M. 
a  vivid  flash  of  lightning  came,  followed  in  quick  succession  with  a 
loud  peal  of  thunder;  rain  and  hail  fell  for  a  few  minutes  very  hard; 
some  telegraph  poles  in  the  city  were  struck  by  lightning,  split  from 
top  to  bottom  and  broken  off;  the  City  Hall  fire-bell  was  rung  by  the 
electric  fluid,  as  it  played  with  the  wires  of  the  Fire  Department. 

April — A  pleasant  month,  with  a  large  rainfall  and  growing  weather. 
An  earthquake  occurred  on  the  seventeenth,  at  9:40  o'clock  p.  M.;  a 
low  rumbling  noise  accompanied  it,  and  a  sudden  jog  from  the  north- 
west towards  the  southeast;  no  perceptible  vibration  was  noticed. 
Another  light  shock  of  an  earthquake  occurred  at  11:30  o'clock  A.  M. 
on  the  twentieth;  no  vibration. 


36 

May — Was  very  pleasant;  light  showers  of  rain  occurred  at  differ- 
ent intervals.  On  the  seventeenth  through  the  day  there  were  strong 
indications  of  a  storm  or  shower  of  rain;  in  the  evening  heat  light- 
ning flashed  and  lighted  up  the  northern  and  northwestern  horizon 
for  an  hour  or  more  with  electrical  flashes.  At  9:30  o'clock  p.  M.  quite 
a  hard  thunder  shower  prevailed.  Rain  fell  so  as  to  form  pools  of 
water  which  ran  off  in  the  street  gutters.  The  storm  resembled  an 
eastern  thunder  shower  for  a  short  time,  more  than  had  been  observed 
in  Oakland  during  the  whole  period  of  observations — eight  years. 
Lightning  played  and  darted  in  every  direction,  low  thunder  mut- 
tered incessantly  in  the  distance,  and  rain  fell  in  great  drops  at  each 
electrical  discharge. 

June — The  month  will  long  be  remembered  among  meteorologists 
as  one  very  interesting  in  the  various  meteorological  phenomena 
manifested.  On  the  third,  from  10  A.  M.  to  1  P.  M.,  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  and  well  defined  solar  halos  that  is  seldom  seen,  was  observed. 
It  was  one  of  twenty-two  degrees  in  diameter,  giving  out  the  pris- 
matic colors  very  bright  and  clear;  the  inner  edge  of  the  halo  was 
red,  and  the  colors,  as  they  extended  to  the  outer  edge,  was  of  the 
color  of  a  well  defined  rainbow;  inside  of  this  circle  there  seemed  to 
be  no  light  from  the  sun;  the  whole  inner  portion  was  dark  up  to  the 
sun's  disc,  which  shown  or  passed  some  rays  of  light,  as  often  seen 
during  a  thick  haze  in  the  western  horizon  at  sunset.  Outside  of  this 
circle,  the  light  of  the  sun  was  greatly  obscured,  fading  from  the 
bright  orange  color  of  the  outer  ring  of  the  halo,  into  a  dark  pea- 
green  or  olive  color,  which  extended  over  the  whole  visible  horizon, 
giving  a  shadowy  appearance  to  all  terrestrial  objects,  similar  to  that 
which  prevails  at  a  total  eclipse  of  the  sun.  At  1:30  o'clock  p.  M.,  a 
strong  wind  blew  from  the  west,  which  dissipated  the  icy  particles 
high  up  in  the  atmosphere,  and  with  it  the  halo  disappeared.  This 
remarkable  halo  prognosticated  the  weather  for  the  following  ten 
days,  and  as  was  said  at  the  time  of  observing  it:  that  the  violence 
of  wind  and  storms  which  it  indicated,  foretold  such  another  as  this 
State  or  locality  had  not  experienced  for  many  years.  The  result  of 
the  forecasting  was  well  vindicated — as  all  that  remember  the  storms 
of  June,  1884,  will  attest.  In  the  agricultural  portions  of  the  State 
the  early  mown  hay  was  much  injured,  and  a  great  portion  destroyed 
for  use.  Early  fruits  were  also  injured,  but  later  ones  were  corre- 
spondingly benefited,  as  well  as  late  sown  grain. 

July — No  unusual  weather  prevailed — the  month  was  pleasant. 

August-r-On  the  fourth  a  light  shower  of  rain  fell  at  five  o'clock 
A.  M.,  continuing  with  a  drizzling  rain  until  1 :30  o'clock  p.  M.  The 
amount  of  rain  which  fell  was  the  first  that  had  fallen  in  Oakland, 
that  was  susceptible  to  measurement,  during  the  month  of  August,  in 
eleven  years.  This  rain  extended  in  showers  to  the  valleys  lying  to 
the  westward  of  the  Diablo  range  of  foothills  and  mountains.  With 
exception  of  rather  more  high  overcasts  in  the  mornings  than  was 
usual,  the  month  was  quite  pleasant. 

September — A  general  storm  prevailed  over  the  whole  northern  and 
middle  portions  of  the  State  in  showers  and  drizzling  rain.  On  the 
seventh  and  eighth,  overcast  quite  frequent;  weather  pleasant.  The 
month  ending  on  the  thirtieth  with  a  solar  halo  from  8  to  9  A.  M.,  a 
gale  of  wind  12:30  p.  M.,  and  a  light  shower  3  p.  M.  Evening,  clear, 
cool,  wind  northwest. 

October — On  the  twelfth,  thirteenth,  and  fourteenth,  a  rain  storm 


37 

prevailed,  with  greater  or  less  violence,  over  the  whole  agricultural 
area  of  the  State.  The  storm  injured  some  varieties  of  the  grape  crop 
very  much,  otherwise  no  injury  was  done. 

November — Rather  a  pleasant  month ;  no  unusual  meteorological 
phenomena;  very  light,  drizzling  rain  and  mists  occurred  several 
times  with  a  few  frosty  mornings  towards  the  last. 

December — Was  a  regular  Winter  month  for  this  State;  frosty  morn- 
ings; low  and  high  fogs;  high  winds  and  gales;  severe  and  continuous 
rain  storms  for  days  in  duration.  On  the  twenty-fifth  low  rumbling 
sounds  of  thunder  were  heard  several  times.  Luminous  and  gorgeous 
sunsets  and  sunrisings  were  observed  several  evenings,  and  that  which 
occurred  on  the  morning  of  the  fifteenth  was  grand  indeed;  the  whole 
horizon  was  lighted  up  with  a  reddened  glow,  tinting  every  cloud 
with  etherial  paint. 

TABLE  SHOWING  THE  COMPAEATITE  ANNUAL  METEOROLOGY  OF  1876, 1877,  1878,  1879,  1880, 1881, 

1882,  1883,  AND  1884. 


1876. 

1877. 

1878. 

1879.      1880. 

1881.      1882. 

1883. 

1884. 

Mean  temperature  of  the  year 

55.09 
74.00 
36.00 
97.00 
30.00 
33.00 
2,00 
49.00 
19.00 

14.94 

34.92 
67.00 
83.00 
100.00 
40.00 
4909 
.06 
21.56 

28.53 
268 
98 
63 
23 
51 
35 
342 
210 
34 
163 
340 

54.46 
60.40 
57.75 
48.20 

4.40 
1.99 
6.13 
5.00 
16.20 

56.29 
76.00 
41.63 
96.00 
3000 
38.00 
1.00 
47.00 
25.00 

14.61 

35.5 
66.00 
83.11 
100.00 
34.40 
51.20 
.01 
11.09 

12.33 
301 
64 
58 
8 
44 
35 
364 
150 
63 
150 
368 

55.18 
61.17 
57.67 
50.39 

1.49 
1.10 
7.76 
6.09 
15.25 

55.28 
69.33 
37.00 
84.00 
27.00 
33.00 
2.00 
46.00 
23.00 

13.65 

32.5 
57.00 
84.71 
100.00 
38.60 
45.06 
.02 
31.71 

32.32 
255 
110 
78 
17 
64 
36 
311 
173 
45 
164 
'402 

55.73 
59.36 
56.92 
50.12 

3.68 
.35 
5.93 
1.28 
13.06 

55.11 
75.33 
33.66 
93.00 
27.00 
46.00 

53.69 

70.66 
41.00 
89.00 
29.00 
36.00 
1.00 
48.00 
28.00 

14.10 

34.91 
60.00 
83.70 
100.00 
27.00 
54.40 
.20 
28.07 

23.84 
258 
108 
53 
27 
86 
62 
346 
136 
59 
172 
385 

52.97 
58.95 
55.86 
45.38 

9.91 
1.88 
7.70 
2.37 
15.78 

55.62 
70.00 
42.00 
87.00 
31.00 
3500 
1.00 
40.00 
21.00 

13.40 

32.00 
56.00 
83.25 
100.00 
29.00 
37.40 
.30 
26.07 

31.24 
276 
89 
67 
28 
52 
47 
402 
136 
58 
138 
331 

56.35 

60.27 
5478 
51.10 

5.12 
1.55 
8.79 
5,34 
12.38 

54.49 
69.33 
35.00 
84.00 
30.00 
11.00 
1.00 
42.00 
19.00 

12.80 

31.16 
54.00 

82.57 
100.00 
28.7 
65.7 
.4 
18.87 

18.03 
276 
89 
72 
15 
77 
50 
345 
150 
53 
143 
404 

54.12 

60.06 
56.44 
46.80 

5.77 
1.13 
9.68 
2.33 
14.77 

51.66 
84.66 
32.33 
103.00 
25.00 
38.00 
1.00 
50.00 
29.00 

12.81 

37.58 
65.00 
83.71 
100.00 
33.9 
48.8 
.3 
15.76 

20.22 
266 
99 
53 
21 
105 
58 
428 
119 
29 
91 
438 

54.63 
61.16 
54.25 
46.20 

5.60 
,    2.78 
10.64 
5.98 
19.26 

55.85 
72.66 
36.00 
88.00 
28.00 
30.00 
1.00 
45.00 
19.00 

11.64 

30.00 
60.00 
85.39 
100.00 
38.1 
31.00 
.3 
38.20 

31.10 
260 
106 

85 
19 
77 
38 
382 
128 

151 

375 

55.59 
61.89 
57.07 
47.38 

6.16 
2.60 
3.99 
1.56 
16.38 

Mean  temperature  of  warmest  day 

Mean  temperature  of  coldest  dav  

Maximum  temperature  for  the  year 

Minimum  temperature  for  the  year 

Greatest  daily  variation  of  temperature  
Least  daily  variation  of  temperature 

Greatest  monthly  range  of  temperature  
Least  monthly  range  of  temperature  
Average  daily  range  of  temperature  for 
year               _          

46.00 
30.00 

12.96 

38.00 
6600 
85.29 
100.00 
39.00 
58.00 
.30 
28.91 

23.55 
266 
99 
89 
19 
63 
46 
355 
150 
50 
126 
372 

56.15 

60.07 
56.73 
47.60 

.70 
1.26 
9.14 
5.13 
15.68 

Average  monthly  range  of  temperature 
for  year.  __        _  __          _  __  _ 

Yearly  range  of  temperature 

Mean  relative  humidity  for  year  

Highest  relative  humidity  for  year        _  _ 

Lowest  relative  humidity  for  year 

Greatest  variation  humidity  in  24  hours  
Least  variation  humidity  in  24  hours  
Rainfall  in  inches  during  the  year 

Rainfall  in  inches  in  agricultural  years 
from  July  1,  1876,  to  July  1,  1884  
Numberof  clearand  fair  days  during  year_ 
Number  of  cloudy  days  during  year  
Number  of  days  in  which  rain  fell  
Number  of  foggy  mornings         _     _  __ 

Number  of  mornings  overcast 

Number  of  mornings  that  frost  was  seen. 
Wind,  direction  from  S.W.  and  W. 

Wind,  direction  from  N  W.  and  W. 

Wind,  direction  from  N  E.  and  N 

Wind,  direction  from  S.E.  and  S. 

Calms 

Seasons. 
Mean  temperature  of  Spring 

Mean  temperature  of  Summer 

Mean  temperature  of  Autumn 

Mean  temperature  of  Winter. 

Difference  between  the  warmest  and  cold- 
est months  of  Spring 

Difference  between  the  warmest  and  cold- 
est months  of  Summer 

Difference  between  the  warmest  and  cold- 
est months  of  Autumn  

Difference  between  the  warmest  and  cold- 
est months  of  Winter 

Difference  between  the  warmest  and  cold- 
est months  of  the  year 

FOR    NINE   YEARS. 

Mean  difference  between  the  coldest  and  warmest  months  for  nine  years 19.67 

Mean  temperature  for  nine  years 55.12 

Mean  barometer  for  nine  years 29.94 

Mean  relative  humidity  for  nine  years 83.97 

Mean  annual  rainfall  in  inches  for  nine  years 24.45 


38 

MODIFYING  CAUSES  OF  THE  CLIMATE 

ON    THE 

PACIFIC  COAST  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  AND  BRITISH  COLUMBIA. 


FURNISHED   SERGEANT   JAMES   A.  BARWICK,   SIGNAL  CORPS,  U.  S.  A.,  SACRA- 
MENTO, CALIFORNIA,  BY  DR.  J.  B.  TREMBLEY  OF  OAKLAND. 


It  is  said  that  every  country  in  the  world,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent, 
has  a  climate  peculiar  to  itself.  In  many  respects  it  may  be  similar 
to  that  of  another,  but  not  identical,  for  the  various  factors  that  go  to 
make  it  are  not  always  equally  alike,  or  bring  the  same  influences  to 
bear  on  each  individual  region  of  the  earth.  It  was  once  thought 
that  climate  depended  mostly  on  latitude  and  the  declination  of  the 
sun  either  north  or  south  of  the  equator;  but  more  recent  observa- 
tions show  that  many  other  causes  which  are  independent  of  these 
modify  temperatures  and  precipitation. 

The  western  coast  of  Europe  and  North  America  are  examples  of 
similar  climate,  modified  by  the  same  corresponding  causes,  ocean 
and  air  currents.  Without  entering  into  an  extended  inquiry  over 
the  various  portions  of  the  world  in  comparing  climatic  factors,  which 
would  be  uninteresting  to  a  majority  of  readers  and  embrace  more 
than  is  designed  to  be  written  in  this  paper;  therefore,  the  knowledge, 
positive  and  theoretical,  of  the  climatic  conditions  that  are  imposed 
upon  the  western  slope  of  the  Pacific  Coast,  bordering  on  the  ocean, 
from  Alaska  towards  the  south,  and  the  causes  as  far  as  observed,  is 
all  that  would  interest  the  local  or  general  reader.  The  same  general 
causes  that  modify  the  climate  of  Alaska,  British  Columbia,  Oregon, 
and  California,  extending  into  Mexico,  have  long  been  known  to 
meteorologists  and  those  who  have  made  physical  geography  a  study. 
But  the  many  local  modifying  influences  that  these  great  currents  of 
water  and  air  meet  with,  as  they  impinge  upon  the  northwestern 
coast  of  the  continent,  by  high  mountain  ranges,  inland  valleys,  and 
solar  heat,  gives  as  various  climates  as  the  topography  of  the  country 
is  different  where  their  influence  is  felt.  The  ocean  current  that 
modifies  the  climate  of  the  Pacific  Coast  is  a  portion  of  the  great 
equatorial  current  which  is  deflected  northerly  and  easterly  when  it 
meets  the  eastern  coast  of  Asia.  This  current,  a  portion  of  the  warm 
equatorial  current,  as  it  flows  toward  the  northwest,  washing  the 
eastern  shores  of  China  and  Japan,  takes  the  name  of  the  Japan 
current,  or  Kuro-Siwo.  At  or  near  latitude  50°  and  longitude  170°. 
it  divides;  one  portion,  continuing  northerly,  passes  through  Behring 
Straits,  the  other  south  of  the  Aleutian  Islands  assumes  the  name  of 
the  Aleutian  current.  It  advances  eastward  until  it  strikes  the  north- 
west coast  of  North  America;  then,  turning  acutely  to  the  southeast, 
flowing  along  the  western  shore,  until  what  is  left  is  drawn  into  the 
great  equatorial  current  at  or  near  the  Tropic  of  Cancer,  again  to 
make  the  circuit  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  hemisphere.  Various  ele- 


39 

ments  of  this  great  current,  when  taken  into  consideration,  that  go  to 
make  it  one  of  the  physical  constants  in  the  formation  of  climate, 
seems  as  yet  but  partially  understood.  Its  depth,  width,  velocity,  and 
temperature  have  not  been  investigated  as  have  some  of  the  currents 
of  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  Professor  Davidson,  of  San  Francisco,  seems 
to  have  been  almost  the  only  one  who  has  given  this  subject  any 
attention,  with  the  exception  of  some  casual  observers,  who  have  here 
and  there  made  memoranda  for  their  own  curiosity.  The  professor 
starts  with  a  maximum  temperature  of  the  Japan  current  of  88°  Fah- 
renheit. At  Alaska,  50.06°.  Six  to  eight  hundred  miles  west  from 
San  Francisco,  60.33°;  one  hundred  miles  west,  55.05°.  At  the  tidal 
station  at  Fort  Point  the  mean  temperature  for  eight  years  was  55.66°, 
that  of  the  air  being  54.97°.  The  mean  temperature  of  the  ocean 
nine  hundred  miles  west  of  San  Francisco  for  one  year  was  60.52°,  as 
found  by  the  ocean  steamers  going  and  coming  from  Yokohama  to 
San  Francisco.  This  shows  a  difference  of  temperature  to  be  in  the 
water  of  the  ocean  current  one  hundred  miles  to  the  west  and  that  at 
the  tidal  station  on  shore  to  be  .61°  less;  at  six  to  eight  hundred  miles 
4.67°  greater;  at  nine  hundred  miles,  4.86°  greater  or  warmer. 

The  great  ocean  current  in  flowing  from  its  origin  to  the  coast  of 
California  has  parted  with  32.34°  of  heat;  or,  in  other  words,  has  lost, 
from  the  average  temperature  of  the  equatorial  waters  (78°),  22.34°, 
and  leaves  an  average  surface  ocean  temperature,  to  the  distance  of 
900  miles  west  of  California,  of  57.89°.  The  temperature  of  the  air 
along  the  coast,  and  the  water,  hardly  ever  rises  more  than  two  or 
three  degrees,  and  the  above  figures  show  only  2.92°  for  the  average 
difference  in  temperature  of  the  water  and  air  over  a  large  area  of  the 
ocean  contiguous  to  the  Pacific  Coast,  and  gives  an  explanation  of  the 
low  temperature  at  the  base  of  the  atmospherical  column  that  rests 
on  the  ocean's  water.  Also  the  great  freedom  from  rain  during  the 
Summer  months,  when  the  westerly  winds  overcast  and  fogs  prevail. 

For  the  purpose  designed  by  this  paper,  the  above  is  all  the  infor- 
mation that  can  be  obtained  bearing  upon  the  temperature  of  the 
ocean's  water  in  the  vicinity  of  this  coast,  with  the  exception  of  the 
counter  or  eddying  current,  said  to  have  been  discovered  by  Professor 
Davidson;  who  in  describing  the  great  stream  that  flows  across  the 
ocean,  remarks  that  "a  branch  of  this  current  continues  direct  to  the 
Alexandrian  Archipelago,  and,  striking  the  southern  part  of  the 
coast,  is  deflected  to  the  northward  and  westward,"  and  calls  it  the 
warm  Alaska  current,  which  causes  the  high  isothermal  lines  that 
exist  directly  on  the  Alaskan  coast. 

The  great  aerial  air  current  that  moves  with  the  ocean  stream,  is  the 
counter  trade  wind  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  and  seems  to  deter- 
mine the  character  of  the  climate,  almost  wholly,  of  California.  As 
it  strikes  this  coast  it  is  always  the  high  current,  and  flowing  from  a 
westerly  direction  changing  but  very  little  the  point  of  the  compass 
at  the  same  date  of  time  in  each  year. 

It  oscillates  from  the  south  of  west  at  one  portion  of  the  year  to  the 
north  of  west  at  another,  moving  from  north  to  south  with  the  declina- 
tion of  the  sun,  and  then  back  again.  During  the  Summer  season  it 
blows  nearly  from  the  west,  and  in  the  Winter,  being  acted  on  by  the 
polar  winds,  is  given  a  more  northwesterly  direction. 

Physical  geography  has  so  well  described  the  great  systems  of  atmos- 
pherical currents  that  it  is  superfluous  to  enter  into  a  description  of 
all  the  winds,  and  the  laws  that  produce  them.  Owing  to  solar  heat, 


40 

and  the  diurnal  motion  of  the  earth,  three  distinct  belts  or  systems  of 
winds  are  produced.  Easterly  winds  in  the  tropical  zone,  westerly 
winds  in  the  temperate  zone,  and  northerly  or  northwesterly  in  the 
higher  latitudes.  These  zones  of  wind  move  bodily  to  and  fro  with 
the  vertical  rays  of  the  sun,  toward  the  north  in  Summer,  and  toward 
the  south  in  the  Winter.  On  the  movement  of  these  zones  of  water 
and  air,  rests  the  causes  of  the  wet  and  dry  seasons  over  the  great  area 
of  country  bordering  on  the  western  coast  of  the  United  States. 

The  most  philosophical  and  scientific  dissertation,  perhaps,  on  this 
subject,  for  depth  of  research,  long  and  patient  labor,  appertaining  to 
the  wind  currents,  climate  of  California  and  contiguous  territory,  was 
made  by  the  late  lamented  B.  B.  Redding,  and  read  before  the  Acad- 
emy of  Sciences  in  San  Francisco,  in  January,  1878.  His  observa- 
tions are  as  follows: 

'As  California'is  within  the  northern  temperate  zone,  it  is  primarily  to  the  movement  as  a 
body  north  or  south  of  this  belt  of  wind  that  we  are  indebted  for  our  dry  Summers  and  Winter 
rains.  Where,  within  the  tropics,  the  northeastern  and  southeastern  trade  winds  meet,  is  a 
region  of  calms  and  rains.  This  belt  of  calms  and  rains,  as  has  been  stated,  moves  northward 
and  southward  with  the  sun's  declination.  Where,  within  the  temperate  zone,  the  northern 
and  northwesterly  winds  from  the  polar  regions  meet  the  westerly  return  trade  winds,  is  a 
region  of  storms  and  rains.  These  belts  also  follow  the  sun's  declination  north  and  south. 
Applying  these  laws  to  this  coast,  at  our  midsummer  the  vertical  sun  would  be  on  the  Tropic  of 
Cancer,  and  in  that  vicinity  the  northeasterly  and  southeasterly  trade  winds  would  meet,  create 
ascending  air,  consequently  calms.  This  air,  laden  with  moisture,  would  rise  into  cooler 
regions,  when  a  portion  of  its  moisture  would  be  precipitated,  making  tropical  rains.  This  air 
would  flow  north  and  south,  towards  the  poles.  Confining  our  view  to  that  portion  which 
would  flow  toward  the  north  pole,  the  larger  part  of  it  must  descend  to  the  earth  within  thirty 
degrees  of  latitude,  under  the  law  as  stated  by  Professor  Henry.  As  in  going  north  it  contin- 
uously has  to  pass  over  a  portion  of  the  earth  which  is  moving  less  rapidly  than  the  portion 
it  has  left,  it  is  deflected  and  becomes  a  southwest  wind.  The  greater  portion  of  this  upper  cur- 
rent having  descended  to  the  earth  within  thirty  degrees,  and  returned  to  join  the  trade  wind, 
the  remainder  would  flow  towards  the  pole,  portions  descending  in  its  course  at  all  points  where 
the  rarification  of  the  air  near  the  earth's  surface  would  permit.  These  descending  currents 
cause  the  local  variable  winds  of  our  temperate  zone,  but  the  aggregate  of  all  of  them  is  the 
prevailing  westerly  return  trade  wind.  The  descending  currents  cannot  give  rain,  as  they  only 
fall  to  the  earth  when  they  become  colder  than  the  air  near  the  earth's  surface.  In  falling 
they  are  constantly  arriving  at  places  of  warmer  temperature  than  those  they  have  left;  they, 
therefore,  change  to  a  condition  of  taking  up  moisture,  rather  than  of  parting  with  it.  Where 
the  great  body  of  the  descending  return  trade  wind  reaches  the  earth  between  latitudes  twenty-eight 
degrees  and  thirty -five  degrees,  must,  therefore,  on  this  coast,  be  comparatively  a  rainless  region. 
Other  lessening  portions  of  the  upper  current  would  pass  on  until  they  met  the  prevailing 
northerly  wind  from  the  polar  regions,  when  their  temperature  would  be  lowered  and  their 
moisture  condensed  and  fall  as  rain.  The  conflict  of  this  descending  current  with  the  polar 
wind  would  create  storms  and  give  rise  to  electrical  phenomena.  The  prevailing  northerly 
polar  wind  reaches  to  about  latitude  sixty  degrees,  varied  by  the  declination  of  the  sun. 

This  view  of  the  causes  of  the  tropical,  temperate,  and  polar  zones  of  prevailing  winds,  is  in 
accordance  with  the  theoretical  deductions  of  Professor  Ferrell  concerning  the  course  of  atmos- 
pheric currents  moving  on  a  sphere,  and  appears  to  be  confirmed  by  the  belts  of  low  barometer 
prevailing  in  the  vicinities  of  the  equator,  and  of  latitude  sixty  degrees.  The  polar  wind,  being 
colder,  is  heavier  than  the  return  trade  wind,  and  where  they  meet,  the  tendency  is  for  this 
polar  wind  to  become  a  surface  wind,  and  prevent  the  upper  current  from  reaching  the  earth 
until  it  has  been  reduced  to  the  same  temperature.  The  operation  of  these  general  laws  can  be 
more  clearly  seen  on  this  coast  than  on  that  of  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States.  There,  the  north- 
east trade  winds  are  forced  into  the  great  caldron  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  The  Cordilleras  of 
Central  and  South  America  and  Mexico  form  a  wall  against  their  progress ;  they  rise,  turn  to  the 
north  as  an  upper  current,  and  return  to  the  earth  as  southwest  winds.  « 

The  Eocky  Mountains,  one  great  chain  of  which  extends  from  the  center  of  the  continent  north- 
westerly to  the  Arctic  Ocean,  assist  in  the  deflection.  The  great  prairies  extend  in  an  unbroken 
line  in  the  same  direction  from  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  to  the  same  frozen  ocean  at  the 
mouth  of  the  McKenzie  River,  in  about  latitude  sixty-two  degrees.  Professor  J.  W.  Foster,  in 
his  work  on  the  "Physical  Geography  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,"  states  that  the  sources  of  the 
Mississippi  River  are  but  1,600  feet  above  the  ocean.  Professor  Coffin  has  shown  from  the 
records  in  the  Smithsonian  Institute,  in  his  article  on  the  "Winds  of  the  Northern  Hemisphere," 
that  between  latitudes  sixty  and  sixty-six  degrees  there  prevails  a  belt  of  easterly  and  north- 
easterly winds.  These  winds,  coming  from  the  Arctic  Ocean,  meet  the  great  chain  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  are  deflected  into  northwest  winds,  and  pass  unobstructed  along  this  great  stretch  of 
prairie  land  into  the  States  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  The  conflict  between  the  northwest 


41 

polar  winds  and  the  moisture  laden  southwest  winds  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  gives  all  the 
Atlantic  States  north  of  Florida  their  Summer  rains.  As  far  back  as  1850,  Professor  Espy,  in  his 
second  report  on  meteorology  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navv,  without,  at  that  time,  more  than 
suspecting  the  cause,  reported  as  the  result  of  a  long  series  of  observations,  that  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  Atlantic  States  the  winds  generally?  in  great  storms,  set  in  from  north  of  east,  and 
terminate  from  north  of  west,  and  in  the  southern  part  of  the  Atlantic  States  they  set  in  from 
south  of  east  and  terminate  from  south  of  west. 

It  is  doubtful  if  the  Atlantic  trade  winds  ever  give  rain  to  California.  That  portion  which 
passes  the  mountains  through  the  valley  of  the  Rio  Grande,  precipitating  its  moisture  on  the 
White  Mountains  and  Black  Hills  of  Arizona,  which,  by  the  meteorological  records  of  the 
Smithsonian  Institute,  are  shown  to  have  an  annual  average  of  twenty  inches  of  rain. 

That  these  general  laws  may  be  applied  to  California  as  the  cause  of  our  climate,  I  will 
assume  to  follow  a  given  portion  of  air  along  well  known  points  on  the  coast.  At  midsummer, 
at  noon,  the  sun  would  be  vertical  in  Southern  California  just  north  of  Cape  St.  Lucas.  In  this 
vicinity,  this  portion  of  air,  having  been  a  part  of  the  trade  wind,  would  have  become  heated 
and  saturated  with  moisture.  It  would  rise  until  it  met  colder  regions,  when  it  would  part 
with  some  of  its  moisture;  a  portion  would  return  to  the  earth  within  thirty  degrees,  again  to 
join  the  trade  winds,  and  another  portion  pass  on  towards  the  north  as  a  part  of  the  great  upper 
current.  Under  the  operation  of  Profossor  Henry's  law,  the  greater  part  must  return  to  the 
earth  between  latitude  thirty  degrees  and,  say,  latitude  thirty-five  degrees;  the  remainder  would 
flow  on  towards  the  pole  until  it  met  the  prevailing  northwesterly  winds;  at  these  points  there 
would  be  fogs  and  Summer  rains.  Whenever  the  polar  wind  forced  its  way  south  of  this,  it 
would  condense  the  moisture  of  these  descending  return  trade  winds  and  give  rain.  This  they 
would  do  until  they  had  passed  so  far  south  that  their  temperature  would  be  raised  to  that  of 
the  descending  return  trades,  when,  of  course,  no  moisture  could  be  precipitated.  It  is  these 
polar  winds,  forcing  themselves  among  the  descending  return  trade  winds,  that  give  British 
Columbia,  Washington  Territory,  and  Northern  Oregon  their  Summer  showers.  Should  they 
force  themselves  further  south,  they,  in  their  passage,  have  to  pass  into  warmer  latitudes;  they 
would  also  meet  the  heat  of  our  great  valleys  and  deserts,  and  become  as  warm  as  our  prevail- 
ing Summer  wind,  and,  therefore,  could  not  give  California  Summer  rains. 

But,  from  midsummer,  the  sun  is  for  six  months  moving  south,  taking  with  him  the  great 
belts  of  winds  of  the  tropical,  temperate,  and  polar  zones,  until,  at  our  midwinter,  his  rays  are 
vertical  just  north  of  the  northern  part  of  Chile,  in  South  America.  These  belts,  moving  south 
with  the  sun  during  six  months,  the  region  of  conflict  between  the  polar  winds  and  the  variable 
winds  which  in  Summer  was  over  British  Columbia,  Washington  Territory,  and  Oregon,  has 
now  moved  south  over  Oregon  and  the  northern  and  middle  part  of  California.  The  temper- 
ature of  the  earth's  surface  and  the  air  in  contact  with  it,  have  been  lowered  by  the  withdrawal 
of  the  sun's  more  direct  rays,  and  the  polar  winds  are  permitted  to  reach  further  to  the  south 
without  increasing  their  temperature.  The  region  of  calms  and  the  southern  limit  of  the 
variable  winds  have,  of  course,  also  moved  south  with  the  sun,  beyond  the  Tropic  of  Cancer. 
At  this  season,  in  the  Pacific,  the  trade  wind  is  not  usually  found  north  of  latitude  thirteen 
degrees,  when,  in  Winter,  the  descending  return  trade  wind,  coming  from  the  southwest,  meets 
the  coast  south  of  Cape  St.  Lucas,  it  is  forced  by  the  Cordilleras  and  the  configuration  of  the 
main  coast  into  the  Gulf  of  California,  and  is  deflected  into  a  course  from  the  southeast,  or,  to 
be  more  exact,  as  shown  by  the  records  kept  by  Dr.  Gibbons,  into  a  course  from  the  south-south- 
east. Without  doubt,  the  southwest  return  trade  wind  which  strikes  the  coast  of  Lower  Cali- 
fornia in  Winter  north  of  Cape  St.  Lucas,  is  deflected  by  the  high  mountains  parallel  to  the 
shore,  and  also  passes  over  our  coast  counties  as  a  southeast  wind.  H.  S.  Warner,  in  a  paper  read 
before  the  American  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science  at  its  Baltimore  meeting  in 
1858,  was  the  first  to  note  the  fact  that  the  waters  of  the  Gulf  of  California  supply  the  moist- 
ure to  the  southeast  wind  that  bears  to  us  our  rains.  It  may  be  objected  that  the  Gulf  of  Cali- 
fornia has  not  sufficient  area  from  whence  could  be  delivered  the  great  volume  of  southeast 
winds  that,  at  times,  during  our  Winters,  flow  over  this  State.  The  gulf  is  not  the  cause  of 
this  wind,  but  it  is  the  channel  through  which  it  flows,  and  gives  to  it  direction.  When  the 
sun  is  vertical  on  the  coast  of  Bolivia,  just  north  of  Chile — at  our  midwinter — he  has  carried 
south  with  him  the  northeast  trade  winds,  until,  as  has  been  stated,  they  do  not  prevail  north 
of  about  latitude  thirteen  degrees.  The  region  of  calms,  where  the  great  body  of  the  upper 
current  returns  to  the  earth  again  to  join  the  trade  winds,  is,  at  this^season,  between  latitudes 
thirteen  and  eighteen  degrees.  North  of  this  region  of  cairns,  at  this  time,  those  portions  of 
the  upper  current  which  pass  further  north,  descend  to  the  earth,  under  Professor  Henry's  law, 
as  southwest  winds.  At  latitude  twentv  degrees,  the  west  coast  of  Mexico  projects  a  bold  head- 
land into  the  Pacific  Ocean,  known  as* Cape  Corrientes.  South  of  the  Cape  the  trend  of  the 
coast  for  nearly  two  thousand  miles  is  east-southeast;  north  of  this  cape,  the  trend  of  the  coast 
for  more  than  one  hundred  miles,  to  Mazatlan,  is  north;  from  Mazatlan  to  the  head  of  the  Gulf 
of  California,  a  further  distance  of  six  hundred  miles,  it  is  north-northwest.  The  Sonora  arm 
of  the  Cordilleras  rises  above  the  table  land  of  Mexico,  at  latitude  twenty  degrees,  and  runs 
north-northwest  along  the  coast,  nearly  to  the  head  of  the  Gulf  of  California.  All  of  these 
southwest  winds  that  strike  the  coast  from  Cape  Corrientes  north  to  Cape  St.  Lucas,  are  deflected 
by  these  mountains  and  forced  up  the  Gulf  as  south-southeast  winds.  The  United  States  Coast 
Survey  have  lately  completed  the  survey  of  this  gulf  and  parts  of  the  Mexican  coast  north  of 
Cape  Corrientes.  When  their  record  of  observations  of  the  course  of  the  prevailing  winds  in 
Winter,  the  barometric  pressure  and  the  temperature  of  the  air  and  water  is  published,  I  feel 

3t 


42 

confident  that  it  will  be  found  that  the  southwest  return  trades  prevail  in  Winter  north  of  Cape 
Corrientes,  and  are  turned  by  the  mountains  and  the  coast  up  the  Gulf  of  California,  and  so 
over  this  State  as  our  southeast  winds.  It  comes  from  this  gulf  warm  and  laden  with  moist- 
ure, and  passes  over  the  Colorado  and  Mojave  deserts.  These  deserts,  as  shown  by  the  meteor- 
ological records  of  the  Smithsonian  Institute,  have  a  mean  Winter  temperature  of  from 
forty-eight  to  fifty-six  degrees.  This  is  not  sufficiently  low  to  precipitate  its  moisture,  and  it 
passes  on  until  it  meets  the  Sierra  'Nevada  and  Coast  Range.  In  ascending  these  it  rises  into 
cooler  regions,  finds  a  mean  Winter  temperature  of  forty  degrees,  and  gives  up  some  of  its  moist- 
ure. When  it  flows  down  into  the  southern  end  of  the  great  valley  of  the  Tulare,  it  meets  a 
mean  Winter  temperature  of  forty-eight  degrees,  which  is  higher  than  that  of  the  mountains 
it  has  just  passed.  It  therefore  retains  its  moisture  and  passes  on,  until  it  meets  a  cold  polar 
wind,  and  has  another  portion  of  its  moisture  condensed  in  a  rainstorm,  or,  failing  to  meet 
this,  passing  still  further  north,  until  its  moisture  is  condensed  by  the  prevailing  low  tempera- 
ture of  a  higher  latitude.  It  is  of  frequent  occurrence  in  Winter  that  a  gentle  southeast  wind 
will  blow  for  days,  giving  no  rain  south  of  the  latitude  of  San  Francisco,  but  cloudy  weather  at 
the  northern  end  of  the  Sacramento  Valley,  and  light  showers  and  rains  from  Red  Bluff  to 
Oregon.  Therefore,  the  northern  part  of  the  State  should  receive  more  rain  than  the  southern, 
and  the  mountains  more  than  the  valleys.  The  least  rain  should  be  in  the  hot  deserts  and  on 
those  sides  of  valleys  most  sheltered  by  mountains  from  the  moisture-bearing  winds. 

Meteorological  observations,  taken  since  the  writing  of  the  above, 
fully  confirm  the  assertion  made  respecting  the  rainfall,  however 
phenomenal  it  may  appear  to  be,  and  show,  conclusively,  that  the 
precipitation  in  all  the  territory  tributary  to  the  influence  of  the  above 
factors  of  climate,  is  subservient  to  meteorological  laws,  the  same  as 
in  other  parts  of  the  world,  differing  only  as  the  physical  causes  differ 
that  produce  the  resultant  effects.  The  average  annual  rainfall  at 
Crescent  City,  in  the  extreme  northern  part  of  the  State  of  California, 
is  thirty-six  inches,  and  diminishes  about  two  inches  for  every  degree 
of  latitude  towards  the  south,  until,  at  San  Diego,  it  is  but  ten  inches. 
In  altitude,  it  is  found  to  increase  about  one  inch  for  every  one  hun- 
dred feet  in  elevation  in  ascending  the  windward  side  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada  range  of  mountains.  Local  causes  have  influences  bearing 
upon  the  amount  of  rainfall  in  different  localities,  but  they  are  nearly 
all  topographical;  and,  when  carefully  studied,  are  easily  explained, 
either  for  the  small  or  great  amount  of  average  rainfall  they  receive. 


UNIVERSITY   OF   CALIFORNIA   LIBRARY, 
BERKELEY 


DATE 


MAR  28 

MAR  28  1932 


Gay  lord  Bros. 

Makers 

Syracuse,  N.  Y 
PAT.  JAN.  21 ,1908 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


